Larkham deal may be under threat

Stephen Larkham’s planned move to Edinburgh could be in jeopardy after the club transferred from private ownership into the hands of the Scottish Rugby Union.

The 33-year-old Australia fly-half had agreed a two-year contract to join Edinburgh following the World Cup.

However the Magners League club were controlled by Edinburgh Rugby Ltd at the time of the big-money deal being struck, and SRU chief executive Gordon McKie is set to decide what the union’s next step should be regarding the high-profile signing.

He told STV Scotland Today about the club’s recruitment plans, saying: “We would hope to look at the possibility of bringing in one or two new faces.

“Clearly the season is imminent and it will be difficult getting players at this time of the season. But around the World Cup you sometimes find people becoming available.

“So there are other positions in the team we will look to strengthen, not just one.”

McKie insisted tonight he has no regrets about allowing the consortium headed by brothers Alex and Bob Carruthers to take charge of Edinburgh on a five-year franchise last year, despite the recent dispute between the two parties.

“At the time it was the right business model,” McKie said.

“We don’t regret doing the deal. Clearly the past two to three months have been quite damaging but much more importantly now we can all move forward with enthusiasm.

“I hope we can put it behind us and move forward.”