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ARU gives Latham time
By Bret Harris
October 31, 2007
THE Australian Rugby Union has given fullback Chris Latham as much time as possible to make a decision about his playing future.
Latham, 32, is considering an offer from the ARU, which involves a two-year, incentive-based extension of his contract.
He has to weigh it up against more lucrative offers from European clubs Bristol and Ulster.
"Chris has an offer and he is considering it with other offers from overseas," ARU high performance manager Pat Howard said. "We would love him to stay. It's probably his last contract so it's a tough decision.
"He is being mature about it and the process has been positive. We expect an answer in the next couple of weeks. We will give him some latitude. It's important he makes a decision he and his family are happy with."
Meanwhile, Howard has distanced Australia from an IRB plan to crack down on player movements from the southern to the northern hemisphere.
Incoming IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset has threatened to bring in rules to stop the influx from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa into Europe.
A number of Australian and New Zealand players, including Wallabies halfback George Gregan and All Blacks Chris Jack, Byron Kelleher, Aaron Mauger and Carl Hayman, moved to European clubs after the World Cup in France.
Lapasset argued the player drain was weakening the southern hemisphere countries and impeding the development of the English and French national teams.
"The All Blacks are losing players in their prime while young talent in Europe finds it increasingly harder to break into first teams," Lapasset was quoted as saying in New Zealand media.
"We have to qualify the issue and put in place some regulations to allow players to play where they want, but at the same time we have to protect the interests of the unions because it will become difficult to develop the game in England and France."
Howard said the player drain to the northern hemisphere related more to South Africa and the Pacific island nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga which had trade agreements with Europe, allowing players to qualify as locals.
Australians and New Zealanders are subject to strict foreign player rules in England and France, which boast the strongest and richest clubs in Europe.
Most Australians who play in Europe are veterans such as Gregan, or Super 14 players who cannot make the Wallabies squad, such as former Waratahs fullback Peter Hewat, who is playing for London Irish.
But IRB restrictions could potentially affect Australia-based players of South African and Pacific islander heritage.
"No disrespect to Bernard Lapasset, but it's hard to put Australia and New Zealand in the same category as South Africa," Howard said.
"South Africa and the Pacific island nations have a trade agreement with Europe.
"Australian and New Zealand players are not going to Europe in droves, although the players who do go are high profile.
"We'd prefer our players not to go and we do everything we can to hold on to our players. I want Australians to stay in Australia."
As chairman, Lapasset, who takes up the position on January 1, wants to discuss playing frontiers with the SANZAR unions.
Asked whether Australia would support an IRB policy to stem the tide of players to the northern hemisphere, Howard said: "Sure. The difficulty is you are dealing with European law, which is bigger than rugby."
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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