Stephen Larkham signs new deal at Brumbies and addresses All Blacks links

The timing of the deal leaves no doubt about Larkham’s immediate future, shutting down suggestions he could be the man to take the reins across the Tasman. Instead, the Brumbies great has recommitted to the club that has shaped much of his rugby life, extending his tenure through to at least the end of the 2028 season.

A Canberra local and former Brumbies player, Larkham said his connection to the club runs deep and remains central to his coaching ambitions.

“I was born in Canberra, grew up in Canberra, inaugural player with the Brumbies, and very much connected to the team," Larkham told reporters. "I had a bit of a strategy when I'd finished my first coaching stint with the Brumbies to go around the world and try and get more experience and bring it back to the Brumbies, that's where things have evolved.

“There's a big legacy piece here from when the Brumbies first started, the professionalism of the Brumbies outfit, and then just the culture within the team that's been building for a long time.

"I'm really excited to be a part of that culture and to continue that culture and that legacy piece.”

Across two separate stints in charge, Larkham has led the Brumbies to the finals every season, establishing the club as Australia’s benchmark side. However, a championship remains elusive. The Brumbies have fallen at the semi final stage three years in a row, despite sitting atop the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a refreshed squad.

“I think coming with that legacy piece is success. We haven't had that, but we're certainly building more consistency in our performances, and I'm excited to be a part of this playing group," he explains.

“I think there's real talent in this playing group, and I'm excited to be a part of this staffing group as well. We have got a really good setup here at the moment and things are ticking along quite nicely."

Speculation around the All Blacks role intensified in recent weeks, with Larkham’s name floated as a surprise contender. He dismissed those rumours outright, revealing contract talks with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies had been ongoing for more than a month before Rennie’s appointment was confirmed.

“We've been speaking for a while with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies, the talks around a continuation of my contract, it's been a month at least. The speculation with the All Blacks stuff, I believe, was just made up," he insists.

"I haven't spoken to anyone about it, and no one has spoken to me or tried to reach out to my agent around it or me. I certainly respect the All Blacks. It's probably not a job that I could see myself doing.”

The former Wallabies playmaker has previous experience in the Test arena, serving as attacking coach under Michael Cheika, and is widely viewed as a future candidate for higher honours in Australia. For now, though, his focus remains firmly on building sustained success in Canberra.

“I think in my head, probably a little bit more confident to start talking in that space," he reflects.

“I went over to Ireland for three years on the back of coaching the Wallabies for three years, also assistant coaching with the Wallabies, and was still learning my craft, both as an assistant coach and as a head coach. I think over the last four years, I've turned the corner in terms of understanding what is required as a head coach.

“I'm trying to be better this year than I was last year, and that's not going to change. That's always going to be in the back of my mind that there has to be growth in my performance as well. I'm certainly starting to feel that this program is a good program, that we are putting something really good together here.

“I think that counts towards future job prospects, whether that's at the next level or the same level.”