0
This is from Foxsports:
By Jim Tucker
December 18, 2007 CHRIS Latham has agreed to a multi-million-dollar deal in England which means one of Australia's most potent attackers has been stripped from the rebuilding plans of new coach Robbie Deans.
The irrepressible full-back is to link with cashed-up English club Worcester for up to three years after he devotes a final season to the Queensland Reds in the 2008 Super 14.
Reaching the decision has been an emotional wrench for Latham for more than two months with his loyalty and love of Australia balanced against an offer too good to refuse.
English sources revealed on Monday that Latham had finally decided to head to Worcester where former Red Shane Drahm and former New Zealand All Blacks Rico Gear and Sam Tuitupou play.
He will be a huge loss to the spectacle of Australian rugby, not just because of his 40 Test tries but because his individual brilliance, crowd-revving try celebrations and passion are such trademarks.
It is still uncertain whether Latham's unblemished service to Australian rugby - 78 Tests and 11 seasons for Queensland and New South Wales - has earned him an early contract release in 2008.
The prospect remains that Latham, 32, will be available for the nine Tests of next season's domestic and Tri-Nations program but freed to miss the end-of-season tour to Europe.
If so he will have the chance to thrive in the initial backline remix that Deans is to mastermind to sharpen Australia's stuttering attack.
With George Gregan commanding at least $600,000 a season at French club Toulon, Latham should earn a cool $2 million-plus for a three-year stint at Worcester.
High performance manager Pat Howard pitched the Australian Rugby Union's case to Latham to extend his Wallabies career to 2010.
Rather than the big contract guarantees of Europe, the ARU offer was laced heavily with incentives which would only kick in with each Test Latham played.
It covered the governing body's reasonable concerns, that despite his non-stop energy, he will finish 2010 running on 35-year-old legs.
Latham isn't slowing down. He was at Queensland's pre-season training in late October when World Cup teammates were still on leave.
Its sad to see Latham leave but I'm glad the kitchen sink wasn't thrown at him to get him to stay. At the moment I'm thinking Cam Shepherd has 15 written all over him. Here's hoping he'll have another excellent season (injury free).