Australian rugby:
Lealiifano pondering Melbourne return
ESPN Staff
August 21, 2013
Australia's Christian Lealiifano prepares to kick the winning conversion against the Lions, Australia v British & Irish Lions, second Test, Tom Richards Cup, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, June 29, 2013
Christian Lealiifano's goalkicking has been on song since joining the Wallabies © Getty Images
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Wallabies centre Christian Lealiifano has ambitions to return to his boyhood town of Melbourne to help inspire the next generation of potential Australia representatives.

Lealiifano moved to the Victorian capitol from New Zealand when he was seven and remained there until joining the Brumbies' academy when he was 17. Now he's back for the Wallabies' three-day camp on their way to Wellington for the second Bledisloe Cup clash.

Lealiifano told the Sydney Morning Herald he would consider a return to Melbourne when his Brumbies contract expires in 2014, to be closer to her mother and help develop grass roots rugby.

''Obviously you want to stay where you grew up and, to not have a side here, I was always going to be disappointed that I had to move elsewhere,'' Lealiifano said. "A big reason I would want to come home is to inspire the young generation down here … there's so much talent down [here].''

Lealiifano never expected to reach the heights of playing for the national team when he first began playing.

''I ran around purely because it was fun,'' he said. ''I loved just running around with my mates and enjoying the game and never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be back in Melbourne in Wallabies colours. "It's exciting and I feel really rewarded, and hopefully young kids can aspire to one day become a Wallaby as well.''

Although his Australia debut ended prematurely after suffering concussion early in the first British & Irish Lions Test in June, Lealiifano has since proved to be a valuable member of the new-look Wallabies outfit, particularly with his goalkicking.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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