Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson frequently struggles to align two contrasting parts of his life. He shuns the spotlight, but rugby drags him centre stage as a rampaging back rower in a bright red scrum cap. Less than two weeks away from the announcement of the Wallabies squad for the British and Irish Lions series, Gleeson is desperate to be picked, but has overcome a far greater battle, finally finding happiness on the field. Gleeson has finished the season with the Waratahs, playing the best rugby of his short career. In January, the No.8 was uninvited to a Wallabies training camp in Sydney after news of his impending move to Montpellier became known. Ultimately, the news liberated Gleeson. “It’s hard when you get paid to do something that you loved as a kid. You get paid to do it now, and the fun goes away, and if you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re not doing it to the best of your ability. I reckon this year, I had nothing to lose,” Gleeson said.