Stephen Larkham
FameRank: 6

"Stephen Larkham" is a retired Australian rugby union footballer currently in the role of attack coach for the Brumbies. He is best known for his career with the Brumbies (rugby)/Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007, and his long tenure with the Australia national rugby union team/Wallabies at international level, for whom he played 102 times. After initial selection at fullback from 1996 to 1997, Larkham was the first-choice Australian Fly-half (rugby union)/fly-half from 1997 to 2007, playing in the 1999 Rugby Union World Cup/1999, 2003 Rugby Union World Cup/2003 and 2007 Rugby Union World Cup/2007 Rugby World Cups. He is married to Jacqueline and has two children, Jaimee and Tiahna.

Having started his career as a fullback, Larkham developed into one of the greatest flyhalves in the history of Australian rugby, being named in 2005 at the position in Australia's Wallaby Team of the Decade/team of the decade (the "decade" being the first 10 years of professional rugby union). At his peak, Larkham was one of the best flyhalves in world rugby with reputation as an elusive runner and the lynchpin of a potent backline.

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Playing football wasn't really my main concern, it would have been life. My main concern was making sure I survived.

It proved to be a great move for me and as the years have gone by I have stepped up into more of a leadership role and have learned to say a bit more than what I did when i first started with the team.

We're still not executing a lot of the things we would like to but we're not expecting to be perfect in February or March. It's going to be a gradual process, but our best football is in front of us.

The shoulder itself didn't feel that bad on Saturday, but the MRI indicates it is. It's a tough decision but the right thing to do to give me the best opportunity to recover in time for next year.

I'd like to hope that in years to come, he might come back and actually give something back to the community that's given him so much.

I love playing with George, his service is second to none and he seems to just know where I am.

I'm hoping to be back in a month, there's a fair amount of stitches in the back of my leg and because it's on the crease, it's going to take a little bit longer to heal and there's probably no reason to push it at this stage.