Current Global Legend and Brilliant Hunk (official title) Stephen Larkham has given evidence at an inquest into a fire that raged through DuskDevi's head when she saw him take his shirt off...

Former Brumbies and Wallabies flyhalf, Stephen Larkham, has given evidence at an inquest into a fire that damaged his home over two years ago.


Two houses were destroyed and two others, including Larkham's, were damaged when the fire broke out at the old Canberra Brickworks at Yarralumla on December 29, 2005.

It is still not known what caused the blaze but it is believed the fire was deliberately lit at the Brickworks, which were directly behind Larkham's property.

Larkham told the ACT Coroners Court, the body corporate had complained to the ACT Government about the length of grass and bushes at the Brickworks before the fire broke out.

The court heard Larkham and his family had to move out of their home for almost a year while it was repaired.

Larkham's evidence was brought forward because he will soon move to Japan to begin a three year contract with a Tokyo based rugby team.
Further evidence will be heard next month.

Stephen Larkham recently charmed the Melbourne rugby audience at the Weary Dunlop Lunch when he provided some background on several of his test coaches.
The former Wallabies five-eighth described Eddie Jones as "perhaps the best technical coach I ever had".

He added: "His understanding of the facets of the game were excellent. I think where he went wrong was when he started to get involved in other areas of the Australian Rugby Union, like contracting players and the running of the game. He kind of got sidetracked."

Larkham praised the man-management skills of 1999 World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen.
"He looked at the big picture. But he had a lot of ideas, too. Way-out ideas. We listened to them but we didn't use too many of them."

Western Force playmaker Matt Giteau has signed a two-year contract extension with the Australian Rugby Union until the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

As part of the deal, the 25-year-old has agreed to stay with the Western Force, but he does have the option to consider offers from other Australian Super 14 sides before the provincial component of his contract kicks in for 2010 and 2011.

"I'm still at a relatively young age and feel my best Rugby is still ahead of me," Giteau said. "So it's really exciting to secure my future at a time when a few of the long-serving guys like George Gregan and Stephen Larkham have gone and so many new players are coming through."

He added: "The 2011 Rugby World Cup was definitely important in this decision. There was also a feeling that if I do want to play at my best then I need to play in the best competitions.

"Super 14, Tri Nations and the World Cup as a member of the Wallabies fit that bill for me, so it was easy in the end to say that I want to stay in Australia."

George Smith is due to become just the fifth Brumbies player to play 100 games for the club when he pulls on the jersey against the Cheetahs in the Super 14 on Friday.

The 27-year-old flanker will join a select group of players to reach the milestone that includes former Australia captain George Gregan (136 matches), Stephen Larkham (116), Jeremy Paul (112) and Bill Young (100).

"There have been some great names who have played 100 games," said Smith. "(They) were exceptional for the Brumbies and it's very humbling to be considered in that company."

He added: "The players who have reached 100 games for their club or state have always been very loyal and consistent.
"It's great to be reaching 100 games this week and hopefully it will be a memorable one."

Smith has missed just one Super Rugby match since making his Brumbies debut in 2000.
Along the way he won the 2002 John Eales Medal and received the Australian Super 14 Player of the Year award in both 2006 and 2007.

Smith put together a run of 66 consecutive matches for the Brumbies between 2000 and 2005 while being part of Australia's 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and in the Wallabies' losing side in the 2003 World Cup final against England.