Larkham's playing comeback?

[madflyhalf]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7742298,00.html

Jake White has revealed to the Herald that bringing Wallaby great Stephen Larkham out of retirement is a "real option" for the injury-hit Brumbies.

Having lost first-choice playmaker Matt Toomua to a knee injury earlier in the Super Rugby season and most recently Christian Lealiifano to an ankle problem, the Brumbies are struggling for options at number ten ahead of their campaign run-in.

And that has prompted head coach White to admit he "would be crazy" not to attempt to bring the 37-year-old out of retirement and back onto the field.

"He runs all of our plays, he knows our plays - we would be crazy not to ask him, and it is a real option I could have Stephen Larkham running around for three games," he told The Canberra Times, with the Brumbies enjoying a bye week.

"I would never force him to play, but when two fly-halves go down you have to think outside the box.

"If we think he can add value to us then we will pursue it - he's 37 but there aren't many guys out there and the ones who are, they aren't much younger.

"If he says to me he would play, then of course we will go with that."

The Brumbies currently sit top of the Australian conference, nine points ahead of the Reds.


Though I think it's not a good idea, a comeback after 3 years away from pro rugby is not easy, I just came in my pants.


He's been my idol since I was kid, secretly after Lealiifano injury I almost believed in that, just because sometimes you're simply never tired to see playing some of your heroes.

Hope he won't do this btw, could be a mess and he could get a horrendous end of career in terms of performances!


Thanks for the hope anyway, Jake.

 

[Dizzy]

Though I think it's not a good idea, a comeback after 3 years away from pro rugby is not easy, I just came in my pants.

He's been my idol since I was kid, secretly after Lealiifano injury I almost believed in that, just because sometimes you're simply never tired to see playing some of your heroes.

Hope he won't do this btw, could be a mess and he could get a horrendous end of career in terms of performances!


Thanks for the hope anyway, Jake.

I know exactly how you feel. When Umaga was picked up for the Steelers and then the Chiefs I was on cloud nine!. It's great to see your childhood heroes back in action.

 

[admartian]

Larkham is a Legend.

Would love for the Blues to get him! We'd probably win another game or two.

 

[Aedaphon]

Umaga showed it could be done... But he'd been in a player/coach role for a while and had racked up a decent amount of game time before he moved back to the Chiefs.

That said, well oh him if Larkham can manage it- but there's really no shame in it if he thinks it's an awful idea (which it seems to be)

 

[nickdnz]

Stephen Larkham likely to return to Super Rugby

Wallabies great Stephen Larkham is being lined up for a return to Super Rugby.
Brumbies coach Jake White says his assistant coach is a real option to play first five in their upcoming matches.
The Brumbies have lost first five Christian Lealiifano for the season and his back up recently had a knee reconstruction.
The 38-year-old last played Super Rugby in 2007

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/13651446/wallabies-great-to-return-to-super-rugby/

If this is true then I'm very excited.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

There's already a thread But yeah, always cool to see an old player return.

 

[TNT88]

Ommmmgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

 

[nickdnz]

There's already a thread But yeah, always cool to see an old player return.

Where?!?! I checked beforehand and couldn't see anything.

Edit: Ahhh, found it, merged.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

It was like two threads below yours Merged now.

 

[Tomsey]

god i hope this happens.
1. it would be awesome to see bernie playing in australia again.
2. he would probably struggle on account of his age and time out of the game and the brumbies won't win another game and the rebels will win all of their games and top the australian conference and make the finals!!!

 

[.me]

It has been nearly been confirmed that Peter Hewat will join the Brumbies, as Larkham thought it would be "selfish" to return. Source: Canberra Times

But securing insurance to cover Hewat's contract in Japan remains a major sticking point and could scuttle the entire deal for the Brumbies.

Hewat, 34, was yesterday granted a short-term release from his contract at Suntory in Japan (where Eddie Jones is director of rugby) to join the Brumbies for added depth after they lost two goal-kicking playmakers, Christian Lealiifano and Matt Toomua, to injury.

The Australian Rugby Union also signed off on the deal, which would see the ex-Tah play in the regular season until mid-July. He would not be eligible to play in the finals, however.

No contract can be signed until insurance for Hewat's one-year deal at Suntory is secured.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

 

[donmcdazzle]

Haha geez what an insult to the depth of Oz rugby that they have to send an SOS to Hewat. He was rubbish in his prime, can only imagine how bad he'd be now.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

He's not much younger than Larkham either...

 

[lucky number 7]

Haha geez what an insult to the depth of Oz rugby that they have to send an SOS to Hewat. He was rubbish in his prime, can only imagine how bad he'd be now.

What's the craic

How are you.

Larkham is some man.

Played much Pro rugby yourself?

 

[Draggs]

What's Mark Ella up to these days?

 

[lucky number 7]

What's Mark Ella up to these days?

Lots

Mark is now a marketing and public relations specialist and a director of the Sports and Entertainment Group. In 2005 he was honoured as one of the inaugural five inductees into the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame.[2]​ In 1997 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.[3]​
In 2007 he published his eponymous autobiography co-written with journalist Bret Harris. In January 2010 Mark commenced work with PortMacquarie Hastings council as sports and events manager

 

[Cave Dweller]

Returning at 37. Can one say White is taking the ****? Or is it the papers at it again trying to attract readers?

 

[donmcdazzle]

What's the craic

How are you.

Larkham is some man.

Played much Pro rugby yourself?

I never said anything bad about Larkham, he's a legend and was one of my favorite players in his day. You obviously never watched much of Hewat for the Waratahs, at Super rugby level he was rubbish. Whether I have or haven't played pro rugby has little to do with my ability to make a judgement about another player.

 

[lucky number 7]

I never said anything bad about Larkham, he's a legend and was one of my favorite players in his day. You obviously never watched much of Hewat for the Waratahs, at Super rugby level he was rubbish. Whether I have or haven't played pro rugby has little to do with my ability to make a judgement about another player.

Pay no heed to what I said last night I'm not ever sure that was me, I had some friends over and banter occured ...Could well have been me though.

Please take no offence to these things

 

[Draggs]

Pay no heed to what I said last night I'm not ever sure that was me, I had some friends over and banter occured ...Could well have been me though.

Please take no offence to these things

Your friends have a good knowledge of former Australian internationals.