All good things have to end. So after 12 years at the top, Christian Lealiifano says it's the right time to finish his ACT Brumbies career.
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The Canberra Times can reveal the inspirational captain will announce his Brumbies exit on Monday, declaring: "it's time for me to move on".
It sets the stage for an emotional start to the Super Rugby finals, adding extra motivation to the Brumbies' play-off charge.
The team has won six games in a row and will play the Durban Sharks in a knock-out finals clash at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
The Brumbies have been coming to grips with a changing of the guard after David Pocock, Henry Speight, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold announced they would be leaving Canberra at the end of the season.
The plan is to celebrate their contribution and thank them for their Brumbies service before the clash against the Sharks, which could be the last game of their ACT careers if the team loses.
Lealiifano's news will hit the hardest given he has been the face of the club for more than a decade and his remarkable journey off the field.
Lealiifano thought he would never play rugby again when he was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016. He made a comeback less than a year later and is now in contention to win a Wallabies World Cup berth.
The 31 year old has been agonising over his future playing options for most of the season. The Brumbies offered him a new contract, but he also had interest from France, Ireland, England and Japan.
In the end Lealiifano decided to move his career to the NTT Communications, but said he was leaving the Brumbies with a heavy heart.
"It's been extremely tough, which is why this decision has taken so long," Lealiifano told The Canberra Times.
"I feel sort of sad to take so long with it because I love this place so much, it's given me and my family so much.
"It's time for me to move on and let some other guys create some memories. I've had a really good run and I'm really, really grateful to the club for that.
"They've looked after me since I was a junior and along my journey as well. The Brumbies will have a special place in my heart for a long, long time. I'll never forget it."
The Brumbies will use their knockout match as a farewell for some of their biggest names, hoping they can send them out on a high by moving into the next round of the play-offs.
Speight will be hoping to make his comeback from a foot injury, while Pocock has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Lealiifano copped a heavy knock in the Brumbies' big win against the Queensland Reds last weekend, but has been cleared of any damage and will take his place in the side.
Lealiifano, who made his Super Rugby debut in 2008, is considered the guiding voice for the Brumbies on and off the field and is one of Australian rugby's most respected figures.
BRUMBIES NEWS
Many thought his career was over when he revealed his shock cancer diagnosis almost three years ago.
He had chemotherapy and a bone-marrow transplant with sister Sally, taking slow steps through his recovery before playing in the Super Rugby finals in 2017.
He has played almost every minute of every match so far this season and has recaptured some of his best form to emerge as a Wallabies flyhalf option for the World Cup.
But he says the only thing on his mind is chasing the one thing that has evaded him during his career: Super Rugby glory.
Lealiifano almost single-handedly won the 2013 grand final, scoring all 22 of the Brumbies points in a five-point heartbreaker against the Waikato Chiefs.
"I've been trying for a few years to try to get that cherry at the end of the season, I'm really motivated," Lealiifano said.
"It's not about getting carried away. It's about understanding what we've got and our group is really special. The bond is something I haven't felt in a long time.
"I'm enjoying being their leader, which is why it's so hard to make the decision to move on. But I've got to start thinking about my family and my little boy [Jeremih] and creating a future for him, not being selfish for myself."
Lealiifano has played 148 games for the Brumbies despite missing all of the 2017 season and half of the 2011 campaign because of injury. He has also played 19 Tests for Australia.
Lealiifano moved to Canberra as a teenager in 2007 before making his Super Rugby debut the next year.
He hopes getting the decision about his future out of the way will allow the Brumbies to focus on the finals.
"I've been putting off looking back. At the moment it's enjoying the ride we're on," Lealiifano said. "Hopefully after a title winning shot I can look back at what I've achieved.
"I spoke to the team about success and team success. But for me that also means the friends I've made and the relationships ... that makes everything even more important to me. The friends I have will stay with me forever."
Lealiifano's exit means the Brumbies will be searching for a new flyhalf and captain next season. Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is expected to put his playmaker faith in a group of young guns, including Noah Lolesio, Bayley Kuenzle and Reesjan Pasitoa.
SUPER RUGBY QUARTER FINAL
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Durban Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 8.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.