Christian Lealiifano

Ashton Hewitt's second try of the game three minutes from time looked to be decisive in a thriller at Rodney Parade, but Ulster refused to accept defeat.

Lealiifano had the final say, the fly-half going over right at the end for a try which he was unable to convert, ensuring it was honours even to leave Ulster four points behind Conference B leaders the Scarlets.

Lealiifano joined from Brumbies on a short-term deal in August and is due to head back to the Super Rugby side in early 2018.

The fly-half, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last year but returned to the sport in July after revealing he was in remission, is yet to fully consider remaining at the Irish province longer than initially planned, but suggested he would be open to it.

"I can't look too far ahead. I'll go until the end of January and do the best I can," Lealiifano told BBC Sport.

Lealiifano on Monday night announced he would link up with the Belfast-based club for the next five months before returning to pre-season training with the Brumbies in mid-January.

The deal is designed to ensure the playmaker gets more game time after he missed nearly all of the recently-completed Super Rugby season while recovering from his illness.

"I feel that it's important that I get some minutes playing competitive rugby ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby season," Lealiifano said in a statement.

Lealiifano today spoke publicly for the first time since returning to rugby and revealed the shining light that spurned him on while pushing through rigorous chemotherapy treatment in Melbourne.

"It helped me massively to know that he had zero awareness of what was going on," Lealiifano said of his son.

"To have him come into hospital and see his dad with no hair one day, no hair, no eyebrows and he still smiles and knows who you are, it's truly uplifting hey.

"You look in the mirror and you're actually sick but then you see your son and he makes you smile.

The inspirational Brumbies captain opened up on Tuesday about his rugby comeback, the people who inspired him to beat cancer and his hunger to win a Super Rugby championship.

It was an emotional 30-minute press conference and he hopes others fighting the blood cancer can use his story to find strength in their journey.

Lealiifano is in remission after being diagnosed with leukaemia in August last year, but doctors have told him to keep fighting for at least two years.

"One thing they never guarantee is the cancer won't come back," Lealiifano said.

The Canberra playmaker has inspired all of his teammates, and his return off the bench in Friday night’s quarter-final will be a timely boost.

The 29-year-old’s journey, though, has not gone over the heads of their quarter-final opponents, with the popular flyhalf’s comeback watched by so many in rugby.

Hurricanes skipper TJ Perenara remembers when the news filtered through almost this time last year, when the Wellington side was preparing for what would ultimately be their first Super Rugby championship.

Lealiifano will be the the ACT Brumbies' bench weapon in his first game since being diagnosed with leukaemia 11 months ago, as he lines up in the Super Rugby quarterfinal showdown at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

His journey back to the field has touched players around the world, with livewire Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder saying it was "bloody inspiring" to see Lealiifano back on the field.

Lealiifano, who has been out of Super Rugby since being diagnosed with leukaemia ten months ago, had originally made his return in Brumbies colours during the team's Austbrokers Cup win over the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore in June and will be on the bench for the knockout tie.