Canberra Vikings skipper Jarrad Butler says the ACT Brumbies will lean on the experience of Christian Lealiifano next year even if the club's ill captain is unable to play an on-field role in 2017.
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Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is set to make Lealiifano part of his coaching staff as the star playmaker continues his fight against leukaemia.
He will have a bone-marrow transplant in November and it is unclear whether he will be able to take his place on the Brumbies' roster for the Super Rugby campaign.
The Brumbies and Vikings will come together in a touching show of support for Lealiifano when they join the Leukaemia Foundation's Light the Night walk on Friday. The event will raise money and awareness for those with blood cancer and the cause resonates with the Brumbies after Lealiifano was diagnosed with leukaemia in August.
The Brumbies will be searching for a new captain if Lealiifano is unable to play following the departure of Stephen Moore (Queensland), David Pocock (sabbatical) and Matt Toomua (England).
Butler, who has led the Vikings in the National Rugby Championship for the past two years, looms as one of the key players to help lead a rebuilding Brumbies side.
"We're pretty fortunate that we've got a lot of experienced guys in our squad," Butler said.
"Yeah, we're losing a lot [of experience], but we've got guys like Sam Carter, Ben Alexander and Scott Fardy and that's just the forward pack.
"As far as leadership is concerned, I'm sure we'll be all right to begin with and I'm sure it's going to be fine.
"[Lealiifano] will be around in some capacity and everyone respects him and his opinion. He's so valuable to the team so in whatever capacity it is, he'll be massive for us and important."
The Vikings will host their end-of-season presentation function at the Kingston Foreshore on Friday before swapping post-awards drinks for a much more important cause – to walk in support of Lealiifano and others in similar circumstances.
Butler is an ambassador for the event and admitted some players were still coming to grips with news of Lealiifano's shock diagnosis almost three months ago.
Lealiifano has been getting treatment in Canberra to prepare for a bone-marrow transplant. Players have regularly visited him in hospital and at home.
"Whenever Bruz [Lealiifano] is feeling up to it, guys love to be around and support him as much as they can," Butler said.
"He's a massive part of the Brumbies and the Vikings ... you go around there to see him and beat him in [NBA2K17]. Going out on Friday is another way of showing support to him and the Leukaemia Foundation as a whole.
"Everyone has different ways of dealing with things, but everyone knows it's a massive fight and Christian's a strong man and we'll be there supporting him regardless."
Brumbies interim chief executive Phil Thomson, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2009, has raised almost $4000 for the walk.
A group of Brumbies supporters, led by Trevor Hancock, are also joining the event to show their support to Lealiifano.
The Vikings were knocked out of NRC title contention last weekend when they suffered a 42-36 loss to the Perth Spirit. It's the first year the Vikings have failed to make the NRC play-offs.
LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION'S LIGHT THE NIGHT
Friday: Details of the walk on the Leukaemia Foundation's website, with entertainment starting at 6pm and the walk at 7.15pm. Follow the link to donate to Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson.
- Who do you think was Canberra's best-performed sportsperson of 2016? Vote now for your people's sporting champion for the inaugural CBR Sport Awards. Entries close Friday.
