Wallabies legend Stephen Larkham has spoken on his contention to be Australia’s next Head Coach, after Eddie Jones left the position following the Rugby World Cup. Larkham is the current Head Coach of the Brumbies, yet has expressed that he would ‘love to be involved’ with Rugby Australia.
Larkham is considered amongst the front-runners for the current vacancy, alongside Leicester Tigers Head Coach Dan McKellar and Argentina boss Michael Cheika. Larkham is a former Australia international, and made over a century of test caps between 1996 and 2007. Well versed to play anywhere across the back-line, Larkham’s talents are recognised as a World Rugby Hall of Famer, following his induction in 2018.
“I’m certainly interested in trying to help rugby in Australia,” Larkham said, in a recent press conference.
“We’ve got a real philosophy here to make sure we are growing the game as an organisation. So however I can help in terms of improving our results and improving our growth within the sporting arena, I’d love to be involved.”
Eddie Jones stepped down from the Wallabies after just 10 months, despite having agreed a five year contract with Rugby Australia. The Wallabies suffered their worst ever Rugby World Cup exit in October, as they failed to progress out of the pool stages for the first time in their history.
Jones’ tenure in charge was overshadowed with speculation, that he had been interviewed for a job with Japan, just two weeks before starting the Rugby World Cup campaign with the Wallabies. Larkham is currently in his second coaching stint with the Brumbies, and has his full focus on the Super Rugby side.
“We’ve sort of got a fair bit on, RA have got a fair bit on at the moment and I’m very focused here on my job,” Larkham added.
“We’ve got a number of changes here with our staff since Super Rugby finished, so there’s been a really good planning period here with the coaches. We’re looking to go one better from last year … I’ve been heavily focused here on this program.”