ARU ready to snap up Latham
ARU ready to snap up Latham
October 18, 2007
THE Australian Rugby Union (ARU) today said it would move quickly to re-sign Chris Latham after the Wallabies fullback was linked to another European club.
Pressure is on the ARU to extend Latham's contract beyond 2008 after the Australian fullback said Europe is “definitely'' an option next year.
A News Limited newspaper today claimed Northern Irish province Ulster had already signed the damaging No.15.
Latham, 32, today denied the report but made it clear Europe was an option.
”Most definitely. At the end of the day it comes down to not being offered a contract by the ARU and European clubs are interested so that's why I am entertaining the idea,'' he said.
Asked if there were future ARU talks planned, Latham said: “That's up to them, I have no idea.''
Besides the recent link with Ulster, Latham reportedly met with British club Bristol's coach Richard Hill two days before the Wallabies' World Cup clash against Wales.
There was speculation that under early release provisions afforded to long-serving Wallabies, Latham had the option of winding up his career in Australia after next season's Super 14.
But the ARU today said Latham was contracted until “`at least'' the end of the 2008 Tri Nations campaign.
”Our position is that he is contracted with us until the end of next year and he will be playing with us until at least the end of the Tri Nations next year,'' an ARU spokesman said.
”The ARU will be speaking with him about an extension beyond 2008 in the very near future.
”He is a very valuable member of the Wallabies squad and we are very keen to keep him.''
The nine-Test 2008 Tri Nations is expected to conclude in early September next year - about the same time the European domestic season begins.
In 2003, Latham looked set to move to Europe but eventually turned down an offer to join Munster after deciding to stay with the Queensland Reds.
New Reds coach Phil Mooney hoped the ARU settled the issue before it “gets out of hand''.
He believed Latham's future would be decided by the start of the 2008 Super 14 season.
”With a player of Chris's standing we are reliant on ARU top ups to pay him his contract,'' he said.
”We've made it pretty clear from Queensland's point of view that we would love to keep him but it's obviously dependent on the ARU and where they see Chris' future.”
AAP