Larkham Edinburgh deal in trouble

[Burgs]

Larkham's Edinburgh move canned

By Fox staff writers
August 11, 2007

AUSTRALIA fly-half Stephen Larkham's move to Edinburgh has fallen through as a result of the team's reversion to Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) ownership, Scottish newspapers report today

Larkham, scheduled to join the club after the World Cup, was seen as a major coup as the consortium that owned the club sought to reassure supporters that the departure of a stream of leading Scotland players did not show a lack of ambition on their part.

Since then, however, it has been engaged in a (northern) summer-long dispute with the SRU, from which it bought the club last year, which only ended yesterday.

That has resulted in the departure, with immediate effect, of Dean Lewis, the interim managing director, and Lyn Howells, the head coach.

Gordon McKie, the SRU's chief executive, said that in appointing Henry Edwards, the team's former forwards coach, as interim head coach for the second time in 12 months, he is hoping stability could quickly be re-established.

But in looking to rebuild the squad, it cannot afford Larkham on the terms offered.

"We decided it would not be in Scottish rugby's best interests to proceed with that agreement," said McKie.

"We have asked Edinburgh Rugby the out-going owners to advise the player that they are not in a position to fulfil the contract on the terms offered.

"If his agent wants to discuss matters with us we would be happy to do so, but the overall structure of the contract is not one that we would ordinarily issue to a top player."

[Burgs]

Wouldn't have thought the Brumbies could sign him if he wasn't able/going to play for the Wallabies?

Excerpt from a Fox Sports article:

Meanwhile, Connolly has encouraged the Brumbies to act quickly to sign Larkham for one last season of Super 14 if the 101-Test veteran's plans of joining Scottish club Edinburgh fall through.

Larkham in May signed a rich two-year deal to join Edinburgh after the World Cup but the Scottish Rugby Union last week took control of the troubled club, indicating that while it would honour the contracts of incumbent players, it would not do the same for new signings.

Although his manager Jason Macarthur has warned of possible legal action if the SRU refuses to honour the deal, Larkham said that dragging the matter through the courts was the last thing he would want to do.

"I just want to hear from them. This (the SRU takeover) all happened on Thursday or Friday of last week and I still haven't heard from them."

Larkham insisted there was no Plan B in place if the Edinburgh deal fell over but it surely would take little time to put one together for a player many critics still consider to be the best five-eighth in world rugby.

Japan has been mentioned as an alternative destination, as have French club Toulouse and Welsh side Newport. But Connolly urged the Brumbies to act quickly on Larkham.

"If I was the Brumbies, I'd definitely be exploring that option," Connolly said.

But the Wallabies' coach believed it would be unfair for Australia to make any more demands on Larkham at Test level beyond the World Cup.

"It's not up to me but the Wallabies are looking at up to 15 Tests next year if the extra match against the All Blacks goes ahead and Bernie's body is pretty broken."

Larkham admitted yesterday he would leave the international arena after the World Cup still wanting more. "I'd definitely like to stay but next season is time for preparations for the next World Cup to begin," he said.

[Evie]

He'll end up in France somewhere if the Edinburgh deal falls through, it won't be back at the Brumbies.