Wallaby great Stephen Larkham could be tempted out of retirement less than a year before the Lions come calling.
Larkham hasn’t played since finishing his career in Japan in 2010 and is currently working as Jake White’s assistant at the Brumbies.
But an injury crisis at the Canberra-based franchise means White is primed to ask the 37-year-old to make a shock return to action next week.
The Brumbies lost first-choice fly-half Christian Lealiifano for the rest of the season after he broke an ankle in last weekend’s win over the Waratahs while fellow No10 Matt Toomua also had his campaign ended prematurely.
And with options elsewhere apparently at a minimum, White will attempt to prize his 112 cap backs coach into a shock return to Super Rugby some five years after he last played in the tournament.
"He runs all of our plays, he knows our plays – we would be crazy not to ask him,” said White.
“It’s a real option. I could have Stephen Larkham running around for three games.
"I would never force him to play, but when two fly-halves go down you have to think outside the box.
"If we think he can add value to us then we will pursue it. He's 37 but there aren't many guys out there and the ones who are, they aren't much younger.
"If he says to me he would play, then of course we will go with that."
Larkham enjoyed a stellar career with the Brumbies prior to heading overseas, winning Super Rugby titles in 2001 and 2004.
He was a World Cup winner with the Wallabies in 1999 and featured in the first two Tests against the Lions when Britain and Ireland’s elite last travelled to Australia in 2001.
