Latham wants Larkham out of retirement
Vince Rugari
AAP on December 6, 2016, 9:59 am
Former Test fullback Latham is keen to renew some old rivalries when he makes his playing return at 41 for the pre-season extravaganza.
Each team at the Brisbane Global Tens will have the chance to field an ex-player as their 'wildcard' selection, with 117-cap fan favourite Latham fitting the bill for the Reds.
Lote Tuqiri is reportedly being considered as the NSW Waratahs' wildcard pick while the Brumbies will also exercise the option, and could potentially roll out Larkham as a captain-coach.
Larkham, 42, still plays lower grade rugby in Canberra and regularly injects himself into Wallaby training sessions.
"I daresay he would be (a good shout)," Latham said on Tuesday.
"He was one of those naturally gifted players, I think he'd still have it.
"As soon as names get thrown up, you start to reminisce of the times where you had those little battles and stuff.
"Whoever really comes back, it's going to be a fantastic event.
"You look forward to catching up with those guys, and hopefully being opposite again and having those duels."
Latham retired in 2012 after a decade at Ballymore and swansongs in Europe and Japan.
He is the backs coach at Japanese Top League club NTT Docomo but is still fit and, like Larkham, throws himself into training when numbers are short.
"When you retire, you start to get a little jealous of all these new tournaments and things that start to come in that weren't available when you were a player.," Latham said.
"You sit back and wish you were a 19-year-old kid starting your career again."
Latham joins Liam Messam, Henry Speight, Israel Folau, Israel Dagg, Jerome Kaino, Karmichael Hunt, Taniela Tupou, Loni Uhila and Rene Ranger as confirmed starters at the Brisbane Global Tens.
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