Chris Latham to Ulster?

mikerob · Post by **mikerob** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:16 pm

Mairs moves with the speed of a comatose hippo and picks up on this rumour... Its all very loosey goosey. Latham's agent will be talking to anybody and everybody.

Ulster in move for Aussie star Latham

World class full-back has Ravenhill talks
Monday, October 22, 2007

By Gavin Mairs

Australia star Chris Latham, widely regarded as the best full-back in world rugby, has spoken to Ulster about a possible move to Ravenhill in 2008 when his current contract with the Australian Rugby Union expires.

The Belfast Telegraph can reveal that Latham (32), who has just recently returned to Australia following the Wallabies quarter-final World Cup defeat to England, was in contact with Ulster last week via his agent.

It is understood the Queensland Reds star, who is the Wallabies' second highest try scorer of all time behind David Campese, with 40 tries in 78 caps, has also spoken to English Premiership side Bristol.

And his Super 14 club are also hoping to secure his services with a new extension - with the help of an ARU top-up to his salary.

The club that gains Latham's signature is most likely have to offer a three-year deal and a salary that would certainly surpass anything Ulster, who face Leinster in a crunch Magners League clash at Ravenhill on Friday night, have paid before.

Latham, who courted Munster following the last World Cup in 2003 before re-signing for the Reds, is most likely to see out his career in Australia and the ARU have already indicated that they hope to talk to him as soon as possible following his return home.

His current contract does not expire until the end of next season's Tri-Nations Championship, which is not expected to finish until early September next year, when Ulster's season would already be under way.

But the fact that Ulster have shown an interest is an encouraging indication that the province are determined to bring top international stars to Ravenhill, to follow in the footsteps of former Wallaby star Justin Harrison.

Ulster currently have three overseas players - the maximum allowed by the IRFU - in Harrison, Mark Bartholomeusz and Paul Steinmetz. Only Steinmetz is currently contracted to Ulster for next season.

Ulster's immediate priority however, starting today, is to begin negotiations to resign a number of their Ireland players who are out of contract at the end of the season, such as hooker Rory Best and flanker Neil Best.

The province will also have to closely monitor Simon Best's situation closely, as the cardiology specialists try to get to the root of his career-threatening heart problem.

"When a player of that (Latham's) quality comes up, we are always interested," said Ulster chief executive Michael Reid.

"But our priority at the moment is to try to re-sign our top players. If one or two or three of them decide to go elsewhere then that might leave a gap where we don't expect to have a gap.

"That's why it is too early for us to get involved with top quality foreign player signings.

"If it is financially possible, we would like to have two star foreign players, as well as Paul Steinmetz. But a lot will depend on how much we are forced to spend on our home stock."

darkside lightside · Post by **darkside lightside** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:46 pm

Latham, who courted Munster following the last World Cup in 2003 before re-signing for the Reds, is most likely to see out his career in Australia and the ARU have already indicated that they hope to talk to him as soon as possible following his return home.

so he has form in this...

great player, but do we want him aged 33-34, lining his pension? not me

Rooster · Post by **Rooster** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:59 am

Looks like Ulster and Bristol getting used to increase pay cheque

Crunch time is looming for Wallabies fullback Chris Latham after the Australian Rugby Union revealed it would table a new deal on Thursday.

Latham is facing the biggest decision of his glittering career after being courted by cashed-up European clubs.

Pressure is on the ARU to come up with a lucrative package and extend Latham's contract beyond 2008 after the Australian No.15 was linked to Northern Irish province Ulster and British club Bristol.

"We can't match them dollar for dollar but we will do our best," ARU high performance manager Pat Howard told Seven Network.

"Obviously he is a very established Wallaby and we want to make the decision as hard as possible."

Queensland Rugby Union chairman Peter Lewis was still hopeful that Latham would remain with the rebuilding Reds after completing his 11th season in 2008.

Queensland had a disastrous 2007 Super 14 campaign, finishing with the wooden spoon for the first time after notching just two wins.

The Reds weren't helped by a knee injury to Latham which ruled him out of the 2007 Super 14 season.

"Chris is our No.1 player. He missed the entire Reds season and I am sure he is champing at the bit to get back out there and do something for the Reds," Lewis told AAP.

"We would be delighted if he stayed.

"He is the heart and soul of Queensland rugby.

"But he's very much his own man. He will decide his own future but we certainly hope Queensland is in the mix."

Latham gave his strongest hint yet that he would remain in Queensland.

"I dearly love playing for the Reds and the Wallabies and to give that away will be a very difficult decision," he told Seven Network.

"I always wanted to try and leave Queensland rugby the way it was if not in a better state and we are certainly not there yet."

There was speculation that under early-release provisions afforded to long-serving Wallabies, Latham had the option of winding up his career in Australia after next season's Super 14 competition.

But the ARU has confirmed Latham is contracted until the end of the 2008 Tri-Nations campaign.

browner · Post by **browner** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:30 am

26/10/2007

Australia star Chris Latham has been offered a new deal by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) that will likely see the full-back play out the remainder of his career in his homeland.

http://www.rugby.ie/news/story/?jp=mhmhmhqlqlgb&d=new

Rooster · Post by **Rooster** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:28 am

And so it rumbles on in todays Indo

Ulster join dogfight to win signature of Aussie ace Latham

By Hugh Farrelly
Tuesday October 30 2007

THE race to sign Chris Latham is hotting up with Ulster firmly in the hunt for his signature and the Australian, considered by many to be the best full-back in world rugby, expected to agree a move to Europe by the end of the week.

The Irish province spoke to the 32-year-old following Australia's World Cup quarter-final and have hinted they are prepared to match anything offered by English or French clubs to secure his signature when Latham's contract with the Queensland Reds expires after the Tri-Nations next summer.

"If it is financially possible, we would like to have two star foreign players, as well as Paul Steinmetz," said Ulster chief executive Michael Reid last week. "When a player of that (Latham's) quality comes up, we are always interested."

Ulster have three overseas players in their current squad -- the maximum allowed by the IRFU -- Australians Justin Harrison, Mark Bartholomeusz and New Zealander Paul Steinmetz. Only Steinmetz is currently contracted to Ulster for next season.

An official bid, worth close to â‚¬500,000-a-year, has been made with both Ulster and and English side Bristol linked to the offer. Latham may be the wrong side of 30 but said yesterday he does not feel his age is an issue.

"It's harsh to put expiry dates on players by age. I feel my game is still going forward and none of the injuries I've had have been degenerative, over-use problems," said Latham. "The next World Cup is a long way off but I don't see why I couldn't be playing in 2011."

The Australian Rugby Union are frantically trying to hold onto their man but a lucrative three-year contract in Europe would be highly attractive to Latham as Australian contracts are based around incentive clauses.

Yesterday, England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall said Latham would be "phenomenal in Europe" and agreed that his age should not be a factor. "He would be a massive catch and could still be dominating matches when he is 35 or 36."

The full-back came close to signing for Munster after the 2003 World Cup, when Australian Alan Gaffney was coaching the southern province. Latham is the Wallabies' second-highest try scorer behind David Campese with 40 tries in 78 caps.

Meanwhile, Ulster lock Tim Barker could be moving to Castres this week if ongoing negotiations with the French side come to fruition. Barker had weekend talks with his former Dungannon mentor Jeremy Davidson, who is now head coach at Castres.

Although he was in the starting line-up at the start of the new season, the presence of Harrison, the arrival of Italy lock Carlos Del Fava and the progress of Ryan Caldwell has seen Barker drop down the pecking order.

- Hugh Farrelly

Freddie Benson · Post by **Freddie Benson** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:57 pm

Northern Irish province Ulster

an oxymoron surely

ColinS · Post by **ColinS** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:05 pm

As much as I'd like to see Latham at Ulster, half a million Euros could be spent better...

mikerob · Post by **mikerob** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:07 pm

I still think his agent is just stirring thing up to get the best deal he can in Oz...

mikerob · Post by **mikerob** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:04 pm

Not much new in this...

ARU gives Latham contract leeway

THE ARU has given Wallabies 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 yesterday. "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."

Bret Harris | October 31, 2007

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 30,00.html

browner · Post by **browner** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:04 am

The Australia full-back Chris Latham is set to join Worcester next season after turning down a new contract from the Wallabies. The 32-year-old will play for the Queensland Reds in next year's Super 14 before joining the migration of southern hemisphere players north.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyunion/ ... 76,00.html

darkside lightside · Post by **darkside lightside** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:35 am

class player though he is, he's the wrong side of 30 and worcester will be paying a hefty price.