ARU fights to keep Larkham at home

SYDNEY - The Australian Rugby Union is preparing a two-year deal for Wallabies playmaker Stephen Larkham in a move to fend off a big-money bid for him from English club Worcester.

The ARU regards the Brumbies pivot as a high-priority retention, and its union's high-performance manager, Brett Robinson, said discussions had started with Larkham's management.

Worcester offered the 66-test veteran almost A$2.5 million ($2.9 million) over three years if he moves north at the end of this season.

"We had arranged an informal meeting and we'll be sitting down in the next two weeks," Robinson said.

Larkham played his first 12 tests at fullback, and another in the position against England in 2002.

His remaining 53 international appearances have been at first five-eighths - the first of them in 1998 against an English rookie named Jonny Wilkinson.

Robinson said the ARU would find it difficult to keep Larkham if the 29-year-old was looking only at his bank balance, as the ARU could not match Worcester's figure.

Robinson also said other Wallaby veterans would not be offered extended contracts.

"We'll be holding on to some senior players. We'll be letting others go. And we do have a young group of players coming through."

- NZPA