Rugby – why-stephen-larkham-should-coach the-wallabies

Why Stephen Larkham should coach the Wallabies.

November 21 2025

“I interviewed STEPHEN LARKHAM in May 2006 when The Wallabies were in Sydney for a three-day camp. I was a well known Rugby blogger and journalist and had already interviewed other legendary names, which is why I got given an in-person interview not just a phone quote.

The Wallabies had a new coach and OG feels. Larkham had been out of Rugby for most of 2005, and the Wallabies had a terrible season, which as far as I was and still am concerned was because of Larkham’s absence.

I had met Larkham in 2004 after a Brumbies home game at Bruce Stadium. It was a terribly cold night in early April, Friday April 9th, even for Canberra, it snowed during the game! Brumbies 50 v Highlanders 18, ouch, the Highlanders couldn’t blame it on the snow, Dunedin is where one be needin thermals all year round.

TALL was my first impression. Larkham is so understated, it’s easy to forget he’s 6’2″/189cm. Unassuming was my next impression, he was standing with his mother [who passed away in 2011] and was surprised that I wanted his autograph, and then patient and kind enough to hold my bag and its contents while I rummaged through it for a pen. And this is why he should be Wallabies coach. The end.

Alright so that may be the 823rd reason why. So why isn’t he?

No one can dispute that as a flyhalf/playmaker Larkham was The Perfect 10. Good luck to the Wallabies trying to find someone else with Larkham’s blend of psychic smarts, forecasting and grit. Those flyhalf boots have been hard to fill but Larkham continued to be very much a strong presence in Rugby since he retired from playing, and is currently back home as Coach of the Brumbies until the end of 2026,

Larkham has “led the ACT side to back-to-back Super Rugby semi-final appearances since his return in 2023” [from Rugby.com.au]

I didn’t ask for a summary when I posed my research question, but as the search engine I used insisted on giving me one, here it is, heavily edited by me because AI was programmed by people who can’t write so AI writes like them.

AI SUMMARY: “Stephen Larkham isn’t the Wallabies coach because he withdrew his name from consideration, Larkham has also indicated that while he is open to the job, he is very focused on his current coaching role with the Brumbies. Larkham was the Wallabies’ attack coach from 2015 to 2019 but was sacked by Michael Cheika due to philosophical and strategic disagreements.”

Cheika is fragile known to be an “emotional guy”.

AI SUMMARY: “While some sources suggest an anti-Larkham sentiment exists in certain circles, this has been downplayed and may not be a significant factor in the final decision.
In summary, Stephen Larkham is not the current Wallabies coach because he decided to withdraw his name from consideration, is highly focused on his successful role with the Brumbies, and has a history with the national team that includes a previous sacking.“

So, no reason at all.

STEPHEN LARKHAM: Rugby’s Perfect 10

[an article from June 2006]

If you know anything about Rugby Union, then you know something about Stephen Larkham. Widely acknowledged as the world’s premier five-eighth/flyhalf, Chief Playmaker of the Australian Wallabies and the ACT Brumbies and one of the best to ever wear a #10 jersey…if rugby is the game they play in heaven, then Stephen Larkham is almighty.

In every story one reads about Stephen there is always a question about his nicknames, Barney and Bernie, his supposed split personalities. Unfortunately this story is no exception but the question was posed to refute the reasons for them, plus I’m nosy. Who’s Barney? “Ahh…that’s the extroverted wild side that usually comes out after a few drinks…which is not often.”

And Bernie? “Well, that’s me, the quieter side, just me.” Understatement. Stephen was nicknamed thus after the corpse in an 80s movie. Most undeserved.

Yes, he has a quietness and reserve about him but he is certainly not dull, let alone lifeless. Quite the opposite. Idling with energy, friendly, candid, humble yet self-assured, and amused but slightly bemused by all the fuss made over him. Also, and this one is for the optical fans, one long cool drink of water…

There are times, however, when Bernie and Barney fuse. An incident with (then All-Black flyhalf) Carlos Spencer, Bledisloe Cup 2004, comes to mind.

What provokes him? “Not a lot off the field, I accept everyone for who they are and try to deal with everyone differently. On the field, well, it’s the way I was brought up and the way I was coached, not to accept cheating and foul play. We used to sort it out ourselves (shy grin) but now you can’t do that, so we leave it to the referee.”

I got the impression that the Barney side is all wild country boy stuff (he drives a V8 Monaro, I mean, c’mon) but he is a family man now…Has fatherhood changed his perspective? “I suppose it’s changed me off the field but not on field, I try to be a little more responsible (bye Barney). Our daughter Jamie was a bit unexpected, a bit of a handful but she’s a blessing in disguise. She’s certainly tested us (wife Jacqueline) but made us stronger.”

Do they wish to be tested again? “We’re just waiting for the right time. If we don’t that’s fine and I think it’s up to my wife how many children we have because she has to put up with more than I have to!”
[The Larkhams went on to be parents of 2]

“I hate to say it but you do get used to the separation. Depending on how long you’re away, it’s always tough for the first couple of weeks. Particularly the end of season tours which are hard, 5-6 weeks away, then when you know it’s a week out from coming home, it gets difficult. You just want to come home.”

Stephen’s intelligence is well documented, it’s claimed he has the highest IQ in the squad (“is that right?”), you can see his brain wind-up on field. What does a rugby genius do to unwind? “We don’t really get a lot of time. I watch movies, TV, play computer games and with kids, you don’t get much time at all.”

What about other sports? Living so close to the snow, skiing? “I went back in school but haven’t been since then. You do need written permission to go skiing and I probably wouldn’t get it…”

He’s alluding to his physical status. Although Stephen excels in a game that requires mental and physical fortitude, he’s prone to damage and neither his opponents nor nature have been kind to him in recent years.

“Yes, the last 2 years have been bad.” Stephen was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, cutting his 2005 season short. “The melanoma’s good, I’ve been downgraded to a yearly check-up now. That was a bit of a scare, last year was my worst year, on field and off field.

On field, Stephen is practically mummified, due to the constant hammering he endures. It must be a bit of a backhanded compliment to be constantly targeted? “Sort of… I prefer not to be but I haven’t yet got to the point where I think I’ve had enough. There are times where I’ve gone into the game with the wrong attitude of just cruising through this game, not give 100% in terms of physical self so that I don’t get injured. Some games you can get away with passive tackles.”

Does he read his own press, believe his own hype? “Not really, I never go out there thinking it’s all on me. I’ve always had good players around me, Brumbies or Wallabies and it makes a big difference. I always think that if I can fit into the team then I’ll be helping the team.”

Although he is a bonafide sporting superstar, Stephen is a reluctant celebrity. You don’t find him making headlines for anything other than his rugby prowess. “I’ve got an association with Ronald Macdonald House but I don’t actively do that sort of stuff (fame, publicity). I keep fairly private, all I ever wanted to do was play rugby.”

And when that ends…because unfortunately, every great sporting career does, “I’ve got a few degrees to fall back on, I might look overseas to see what’s on offer. I feel I haven’t finished my career yet (he’s 32) so keen to play for another couple of years. I definitely still have a lot to learn though.”

At the time of this interview the Wallabies were just about to start their test season. All eyes will be on Stephen heading into World Cup year, 2007. We were robbed last World Cup (“Many of us haven’t watched that game, we can’t!”) and to get *Bill back Stephen Larkham is pivotal. Pun intended. Bring out the bubble wrap and let the games begin.

by Sandhya Nand.

This interview was previously published as a shorter article written by TS Publisher SDDN, in 2006 for a Sydney based print magazine called Cafe Society.