ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is out to leave a similar legacy as he left as a player, as he re-commits his future in the nation's capital.
Larkham penned a two-year extension with the Brumbies, keeping him there until at least the end of the 2028 season.
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Across his two stints, Larkham is yet to miss the finals in charge of the club, setting the Brumbies up as the premier side in Australia.
“I was born in Canberra, grew up in Canberra, inaugural player with the Brumbies, and very much connected to the team," Larkham told reporters. "I had a bit of a strategy when I'd finished my first coaching stint with the Brumbies to go around the world and try and get more experience and bring it back to the Brumbies, that's where things have evolved.
“There's a big legacy piece here from when the Brumbies first started, the professionalism of the Brumbies outfit, and then just the culture within the team that's been building for a long time.
" I'm really excited to be a part of that culture and to continue that culture and that legacy piece.”
But it's an elusive title that is driving Larkham to achieve greater things at the Brumbies.
Larkham has made it to three straight semi-finals without tasting the title, with the new-look team currently sitting top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.
“I think coming with that legacy piece is success. We haven't had that, but we're certainly building more consistency in our performances, and I'm excited to be a part of this playing group," he explains.
“I think there's real talent in this playing group, and I'm excited to be a part of this staffing group as well. We have got a really good setup here at the moment and things are ticking along quite nicely."
It comes after Larkham was thrown late into the mix as a potential All Blacks coach.
The Wallabies legend garnered attention from fans and pundits alike, leading to speculation.
Larkham labelled that speculation as simply that, with the Kiwis announcing Dave Rennie as their new coach shortly after his re-signing.
“We've been speaking for a while with Rugby Australia and the Brumbies, the talks around a continuation of my contract, it's been a month at least. The speculation with the All Blacks stuff, I believe, was just made up," he insists.
"I haven't spoken to anyone about it, and no one has spoken to me or tried to reach out to my agent around it or me. I certainly respect the All Blacks. It's probably not a job that I could see myself doing.”
Larkham has served in Test programs in the past, working as the Wallabies' attacking coach under Michael Cheika.
The World Rugby Hall of Famer is starting to feel confident he could step up as head coach, looming as a prime candidate to follow Les Kiss as Wallabies boss.
“I think in my head, probably a little bit more confident to start talking in that space," he reflects.
“I went over to Ireland for three years on the back of coaching the Wallabies for three years, also assistant coaching with the Wallabies, and was still learning my craft, both as an assistant coach and as a head coach. I think over the last four years, I've turned the corner in terms of understanding what is required as a head coach.
“I'm trying to be better this year than I was last year, and that's not going to change. That's always going to be in the back of my mind that there has to be growth in my performance as well. I'm certainly starting to feel that this program is a good program, that we are putting something really good together here.
“I think that counts towards future job prospects, whether that's at the next level or the same level.”
