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Wallaby and Reds star Chris Latham has vowed to produce some of the best rugby of his glittering career in Worcester Warriors colours next season. The 32-year-old full-back, who holds an impressive 73 Test caps to his name, is currently rehabilitating from a recent grade two medial ligament injury he sustained against the Cheetahs in South Africa. However, the big-booted player is banking on finishing the southern hemisphere season strongly, targeting big performances for the Reds' final two Super 14 matches of the season in May. A renowned quick healer, few would bet against the 2006 Australian player-of-the-year fulfilling his ambition, as he counts down the days to his arrival at Sixways in October.

"I went to see the surgeon about my knee and he told me that it's in great shape," Latham told the Worcester Evening News. "The knee reconstruction I had last year and the other injuries I've had were really just unlucky injuries. "The important thing is that they are not degenerative conditions so I'm very happy and my body feels as good as it ever has. "I expect to be back playing in about four weeks and, after playing in the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup for Australia this year, I will be a Worcester player. "I absolutely believe that I can play some of the best rugby of my career for the Warriors and joining the club will be a dream come true".

Worcester currently possess such attacking threats as Rico Gear and Sam Tuitupou in their armoury, but they remain second bottom in a below-par season to their standards. However, despite the Warriors managing just four Premiership wins all campaign, Latham believes there are plenty of reasons to be positive as he looks ahead to making his debut in the 2008-09 campaign. "Worcester have lost quite a few close games so there is a lot for the fans to be excited about next year," he said. "In my experience of both international and Super rugby the best way for any team to improve is through experience and self-belief. "The Warriors need a bit more experience of how to win close matches and they also need to have more self-belief, not only in themselves but also in their team-mates. "All of that takes time but hopefully I can make a difference next year"

	Wallaby and Reds star Chris Latham has vowed to produce some of the best rugby of his glittering career in Worcester Warriors colours next season. The 32-year-old full-back, who holds an impressive 73 Test caps to his name, is currently rehabilitating from a recent grade two medial ligament injury he sustained against the Cheetahs in South Africa. However, the big-booted player is banking on finishing the southern hemisphere season strongly, targeting big performances for the Reds' final two Super 14 matches of the season in May. A renowned quick healer, few would bet against the 2006 Australian player-of-the-year fulfilling his ambition, as he counts down the days to his arrival at Sixways in October. "I went to see the surgeon about my knee and he told me that it's in great shape," Latham told the Worcester Evening News. "The knee reconstruction I had last year and the other injuries I've had were really just unlucky injuries. "The important thing is that they are not degenerative conditions so I'm very happy and my body feels as good as it ever has. "I expect to be back playing in about four weeks and, after playing in the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup for Australia this year, I will be a Worcester player. "I absolutely believe that I can play some of the best rugby of my career for the Warriors and joining the club will be a dream come true". Worcester currently possess such attacking threats as Rico Gear and Sam Tuitupou in their armoury, but they remain second bottom in a below-par season to their standards. However, despite the Warriors managing just four Premiership wins all campaign, Latham believes there are plenty of reasons to be positive as he looks ahead to making his debut in the 2008-09 campaign. "Worcester have lost quite a few close games so there is a lot for the fans to be excited about next year," he said. "In my experience of both international and Super rugby the best way for any team to improve is through experience and self-belief. "The Warriors need a bit more experience of how to win close matches and they also need to have more self-belief, not only in themselves but also in their team-mates. "All of that takes time but hopefully I can make a difference next year"
Chris Latham has been denied a 'fairytale' send-off from Australia after tearing his pectoral muscle playing for the Queensland Reds. Latham is quitting the Reds at the end of the Super 14s season to join Guinness Premiership outfit Worcester. The 32-year-old full-back was expected to play some part in the Wallabies' summer Tests before heading to England. However Latham suffered the injury trying to tackle Crusaders winger Kade Poki after just eight minutes of Saturday's clash. And scans have showed that Latham will be sidelined for about three months with the injury. "That's the end of one of the greatest careers in the Queensland jersey. Unfortunately not everyone gets the fairytale send-off," said Reds coach Phil Mooney. "What he's done for Queensland over an extended period of time puts him up there amongst the greatest ever to wear the Red jersey."
Worcester yesterday confirmed the signing of the Australia full-back Chris Latham, who will arrive at Sixways next summer. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the option of a third year in a deal worth a potential £900,000, although he denied yesterday that the move had been motivated by money. "It is just a fact of life that it is time to move on," said Latham, who has scored 40 tries in 78 Tests. "I want to refocus, set new goals and play some of my most consistent rugby yet. It definitely has never been about the money." However, he had been disappointed by the Australian Rugby Union's offer of a two-year incentive-based contract. "I didn't think I needed any incentives to play rugby. Perhaps they didn't think I'd be able to carry on for many more years. Had I been offered the same money I am now on I would have stayed, but I am happy with the line they took because it has given me an opportunity elsewhere."
	Latham, who is the second-highest try-scorer in Australia's history, will move to Britain after competing in the 2008 Tri-Nations series. The 32-year-old, who has the option of extending his stay at Sixways with a third-year, said: "My family and I are really looking forward to moving to Worcester, I am very excited about playing in the Guinness Premiership for the Warriors. "I have enjoyed a wonderful decade of rugby with the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies. At this stage of my life and career I feel it the right time for both my family and I to experience new things and to give myself fresh and challenging goals, as I know I am yet to play my best rugby." Latham, however, has said that he would have agreed to stay in Australia had the Australian Rugby Union not downgraded his contract. His current deal was due to expire at the end of 2008 and the ARU were reluctant to offer the full-back a new deal which would have taken him through to the next World Cup in 2011. "Had I been offered the same amount of money that I was on this year for the next few years, I would have definitely stayed," Latham said. "They (ARU) obviously thought that I wouldn't be able to carry through for too many more years, and that's the line that they've taken. But I firmly believe that I am yet to play my best." Australia's loss is Worcester's gain, according to Warriors director of rugby, Mike Ruddock. "We're absolutely delighted that Chris Latham, the world's best full back, has decided to join us at Worcester Warriors," he said. "We've made no secret of the fact that we want to strengthen the team through the acquisition of world-class players and by grooming our own young players through our Academy structure. "With the arrival of Chris Latham and the re-signing of Chris Pennell it shows we are determined to develop both strategies." Latham has played 78 tests for Australia since making his debut in 1998 and could play another nine matches next year before his move to Britain. He was a member of the squads that won the World Cup in 1999, reached the final in 2003 and were knocked out in the quarter-finals by England at this year's tournament in France.