Far from the emotion-charged atmosphere of his last match, Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto made an low-key return to rugby in Ballarat as the Queensland Reds took on Melbourne in a Super Rugby pre-season trial.
Formerly known as Lukhan Tui, the 22-year-old put his rugby career on hold after he was involved in a scuffle with a Wallabies fan after a Test match against Argentina on the Gold Coast last September.
That came a few days after the sudden death of his stepfather, which prompted his name change late last year and his decision to withdraw from Wallabies duty for the rest of the year to care for his mother and siblings.
Salakaia-Loto played 60 minutes of an entertaining trial, won 29-26 by the Rebels with a last gasp try, and said he was excited to be back playing rugby.
"I was obviously thinking about it for a long time," Salakaia-Loto said.
"For myself, it was a bit emotional getting out there ... I think I was just more excited than anything.
"I'm just happy to be back playing footy and I had a smile on my face for most of the time."
Salakaia-Loto said it was "special" to be carrying his new name, which honoured both stepfather and part of his birth father's name.
Taking the first step, with the Reds' first Super Rugby trial, he said playing for the Wallabies again this season, with the World Cup looming, was his goal.
"That's down the track so my focus at the moment is just playing well for the Reds and trying to get a full season under my belt and whatever happens, happens."
