- Chris Latham (rugby union)
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Chris Latham Full name Christopher Eric Latham Date of birth 8 September 1975 Place of birth Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Weight 102 kg Nickname Latho School Narrabri High School Rugby union career Playing career Position Fullback, Wing Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Caps (points) 1997–1998
1998–2008
2008–2010Waratahs
Reds
Worcester10
99
46
(211)
(42)correct as of 2008-11-26. National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 1998–2007 Australia 78 (200) correct as of 2011-10-24. Sevens national teams Years Club / team Comps 1997, 2006 Australia correct as of 2011-10-24. Chris Latham (born 8 September 1975) is an Australian rugby union player, who played fullback for the Worcester Warriors, following a long career with the Queensland Reds and Australia.
He currently stands as the second highest try scorer (behind David Campese) in Wallaby history with 40 international tries.
Career
He started his career with the New South Wales Waratahs, but moved to Queensland in 1998, beginning a highly successful career with the Reds where he received the Australian Super 12 Player of the Year award three times (2000, 2003 and 2004). In 2005 he became the 21st player to win 100 caps for Queensland.
Latham made his international debut for Australia against France in 1998 and represented Australia in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups.
He was a star of the Northern Hemisphere v. Southern Hemisphere Tsunami Relief match held at Twickenham in March 2005, scoring three tries.
In February 2006, he was named in the Australian Rugby Sevens team to compete at the 2006 Commonwealth games, to be held in Melbourne. Latham suffered a rib injury in the tournament.
On 12 September 2006 he was awarded the 2006 John Eales Medal.[1] He is the first back to be awarded the medal.
Latham is widely regarded as one of the best fullbacks in the world, and in 2006 was nominated by the International Rugby Board for player of the year.[2][3] Latham suffered misfortune in early 2007 when he ripped his anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season training with the Queensland Reds.
His return to the Wallabies team was seen as essential to their chances of success in the tournament.[4] and he did not disappoint in their ultimately unsuccessful campaign.
Latham's final season with the Reds was again disrupted by injury. His round 13 return against the Crusaders should have been his penultimate appearance for the Reds, but he ruptured his pectoral muscle 13 minutes into the match, ending his Queensland and Australian career. This denied him a final round, home game farewell against the Waratahs, in what would have been his 100th Super Rugby appearance for the Reds.
Latham moved to the Worcester Rugby Club in 2008 on a two year contract.[5] The contract is estimated to be worth £325,000 a year, which would make him the second highest wage earner in the English Premiership (Newcastle Falcons prop Carl Hayman tops the list)[6] He made his Worcester debut in a pre-season friendly against Ulster on 27 August 2008.[7]
Stephen Jones, chief rugby correspondent for The Times and The Sunday Times, rated Latham as the finest fullback he has ever seen.[8]
References
- ^ "Chris Latham wins 2006 John Eales Medal". ARU. 2006-09-12. http://www.rugby.com.au/news/chris_latham_wins_2006_john_eales_medal,48958.html/section/21893. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
- ^ "IRB announces Player of Year nominees". IRB. 2006-07-23. http://www.irb.com/history/news/newsid=278467.html#irb+announces+player+year+nominees. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
- ^ The eventual winner was Richie McCaw however Latham was the only fullback nominated.
- ^ "Wallabies v Springboks Match Report 18 June 2007". ROAR. http://www.theroar.com.au/2007/06/18/wallabies-v-springboks-match-report/.
- ^ "Latham seals switch to Worcester". BBC News. 2007-12-18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/worcester/7148186.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
- ^ "Premiership faces cull in harsh financial times". The Independent. London: The Independent Print. 2008-12-16. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/peter-bills-premiership-faces-cull-in-harsh-financial-times-1097238.html. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ Irish joy as Warriors impress at Ulster
- ^ "Chris Latham's last stand". London: Sunday Times. 2008-09-07. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/stephen_jones/article4691864.ece. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
External links
- Chris Latham Wallabies profile
- Chris Latham Reds profile
- Chris Latham Worcester Warriors profile
- Chris Latham 2006 Commonwealth Games Athlete
Preceded by
Jeremy PaulJohn Eales Medal
2006Succeeded by
Nathan SharpeAustralia squad – 1999 Rugby World Cup Winners (2nd Title) Forwards Backs Coach Australia squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Runners-up Forwards Backs Coach Australia squad – 2007 Rugby World Cup Forwards Backs Ashley-Cooper · Barnes · Cordingley · Gerrard · Giteau · Gregan (vc) · Huxley · Larkham · Latham · Mitchell · Mortlock (c) · Staniforth · TuqiriCoach Categories:- Australian rugby union players
- Australia international rugby union players
- New South Wales Waratahs rugby union players
- Reds rugby union players
- Rugby union fullbacks
- 1975 births
- Living people
- Worcester Warriors players
- Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
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