The future for Chris Latham
Personally I would like to see Latho go around through to the next World Cup, as a/the senior statesman of the team, especially having missed most of this season.
However, if he is only going to be around for one more season, then I would prefer to see him leave the Wallabies after France so the new Coach can get on with molding his new Fullback.
Clubs will chase Latham, says Gregan
September 23, 2007 - 2:51PM
George Gregan says it's inevitable big-paying clubs will attempt to lure Wallabies fullback Chris Latham overseas next year.
Latham reportedly met the coach of English club Bristol last weekend but would only say he's considering his options after the World Cup.
The 75-Test fullback has one year left on his contract but could ask for an early release from the Australian Rugby Union after the Super 14 on long service grounds.
As he prepared to equal another Test record, Gregan said it would be a shame to see Latham join him and halves partner Stephen Larkham in retiring from Test rugby after the World Cup.
But the veteran halfback, to captain Australia for the 59th time tonight against Fiji, equalling the record held by England's Will Carling, was not surprised by the interest given the Queenslander's age (32) and form.
"It's inevitable really," Gregan said.
"You just need to look at our birthdates, there's not many of us left [born] in the 1970s within this squad.
"In the last two seasons - I think even before that - he's just been consistently world class and he's just been such an important part of the Wallaby team.
"And he's a person, particularly in high-pressure games, that you just rely on and you almost expect the things like he did last week at Millennium Stadium."
Latham met Bristol coach and former English Test player Richard Hill in Cardiff the day before he scored two tries in a man-of-the-match performance for Australia's 32-20 win over Wales.
The Australian Rugby Union is keen to keep the 2006 player of the year nominee but he's understood to be looking at earning in the area of $800,000 a season with a move to Britain.
Latham, who attempted to gain a two-year contract extension after a brilliant European tour late last year, has played down the meeting with Hill.
"I'm just looking, considering my options. I don't want anything to distract me from the World Cup campaign," he told News Ltd newspapers.
It's just as well for the Australian Rugby Union that Latham was already planning to have a coffee with Wallabies coach John Connolly before the news broke.
Latham, sidelined for six months this year after a knee reconstruction, wants to persuade Connolly to keep him at No.15 for the Wallabies' fourth and final pool match against Canada on Saturday.
He's started the tournament in hot form with four tries in two matches to take his World Cup tally to 10 from just four games, only behind Jonah Lomu (15) and Rory underwood (11) on the all-time RWC list.
"For me I feel very confident that the more games I play the better I'm going to get, especially with the limited time I have had on the field," Latham said.
While his negotiations are almost certainly doomed to failure, Connolly can start the sell for a new two-year contract.
AAP
From Fox article: Dempsey also confirmed that if fullback Chris Latham asks for an early release from his contract next year in order to accept a northern hemisphere offer, he would easily qualify for that consideration.
"He meets all the criteria for an early release if he wants one - he's played more than 30 Tests or 60 Super rugby matches and he's in the final year of his contract in 2008, so he could be released after June 30," Dempsey said.
The Queensland Rugby Union has made it clear it will do just about anything to retain Latham. But it won't offer him the Reds captaincy as an incentive to stay.
Latham has been exploring his options in Britain and Europe, with Bristol the first of no doubt many clubs to approach him. Even though he just celebrated his 32nd birthday, both the Reds and Wallabies have long-term plans for him, plans that could even take in the next World Cup.
But as desperate as new Queensland coach Phil Mooney is to hold on to his best and most experienced player, he believes neither the Reds nor Latham himself would benefit from giving him the captaincy.
"Latho is a fantastic leader, a natural leader but when he has captained Queensland in the past, it has cramped his performance," Mooney, who is expected to retain this year's captain John Roe in the job, said.
