Stephen Larkham set for Brumbies homecoming in Super Rugby Pacific

Larkham will front the Brumbies board via video call on Wednesday night to present his vision for the club, with the meeting likely to end with club chiefs rubber stamping his appointment for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season and beyond.

The former Brumbies star player turned mentor turned down a contract extension with Irish province Munster to chase "a coaching opportunity closer to home".

Larkham has emerged as the Brumbies' ideal candidate for the head coaching role, taking over from Dan McKellar at the end of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.

A Canberra comeback will see Larkham reprise the role he held from 2014-17, when he guided the Brumbies to the Super Rugby finals on all four occasions.

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McKellar stepped into the top job ahead of the 2018 season with Larkham graduating to a full-time role on Michael Cheika's staff with the Wallabies.

But Larkham was controversially sacked during 2019, with many believing he had been made a scapegoat for an underperforming national team, and soon joined Irish provincial side Munster.

"I only recently spoke about my desire to remain with Munster and continue working with my fellow coaches and playing group," Larkham said.

"That hopefully gives some indication as to how difficult a decision this has been for me. The staff, players, fans, and facilities are world class here and I am grateful to have had this opportunity.

"My family made a number of sacrifices in joining me on this move to Ireland and my girls' adjustment over here, particularly with COVID, has been difficult. I have to put them first now, and with a coaching opportunity closer to home this is the right thing for my family at this time.

"For now, my focus is very much with Munster Rugby and with a long season ahead I will savour every moment of working within this great environment as we continue to build in the right direction."

Brumbies officials would like to retain continuity on the coaching staff. Forwards coach Laurie Fisher is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, while backs mentor Rod Seib is locked in until the end of 2022.

Fisher and Seib are overseeing the Brumbies' pre-season program with McKellar in quarantine following an early exit from his duties on the Wallabies' Spring Tour.

The Canberra Times revealed in September Larkham had emerged as a leading candidate. Brumbies officials cut down a list to four candidates, believed to include Simon Cron, who were interviewed, with Larkham identified as the preferred option.

"He's always been in contact with us, just because he has been a part of us for such a long time," Brumbies chairman Matt Nobbs said.

"I think probably naturally he is itching to get home."

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