Rugby: Brisbane Global Tens starting to take shape

Jerome Kaino and Chris Latham will be playing in Brisbane. Photo / Liam Knidson

The inaugural Brisbane Global Rugby Tens is starting to take shape with big names confirming their participation in the early February tournament.

Damian McKenzie and Liam Messam (Chiefs), Jerome Kaino and Rene Ranger (Blues), Israel Dagg (Crusaders), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Loni Uhila (Hurricanes), Chris Latham, Samu Kerevi, Karmichael Hunt and Taniela Tupou (Reds) and Israel Folau (Waratahs) have all been locked in to pull on the boots at Suncorp Stadium.

The full squads will be announced at the end of January, and organisers Duco Events are expecting more 'wildcard' players to follow Reds back and former Wallaby Chris Latham's lead and sign up for the bold new event.

"There certainly are some other teams working on it as we speak so there is no doubt that we'll have more announcements in terms of wildcards," said Duco's Australian CEO Rachael Carroll.

"It's not something that we'll see every team do but certainly some select teams are looking at it.

"But, as with Chris, they're looking at someone that can really contribute, that can add physically or even to the culture of the team.

"So we're in discussions with teams here and offshore as well about the wildcards."

All 10 New Zealand and Australian Super Rugby teams will feature in the tournament along with the Bulls from South Africa, Toulon from France, Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights along with a Samoan national side.

The Super Rugby sides are contractually obligated to include four of their 10 highest paid players in their Tens squads.

Toulon will be without their French Six Nations stars but hope the side will be bolstered by the likes of Australian internationals Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor, Liam Gill and former All Blacks Ma'a Nonu.

"Toulon is stacked with a heap of Australian and New Zealand players," Carroll said.
"And they're the players that certainly I think the fans will want to see, taking the field on Suncorp Stadium.

"It's certainly exciting to have them [Toulon] as part of the competition.

"This is the first time Toulon have ever come to Australia and played so you're seeing quite a few world firsts here at this tournament."

Chris Latham, 41 and now coaching in Japan, mentioned former teammates Lote Tuqiri and Stephen Larkham as two stars he'd like to see join him turn back time and take up a wildcard slot.

Tuqiri last took the field as a rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015, while Larkham is currently head coach of the Brumbies Super Rugby side.

"As soon as names get thrown up, you start to reminisce of the times where you had those little battles and stuff," Latham said.

"(Larkham) was actually one of those naturally gifted players so I think he'd still have it."

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino, who was in Brisbane with Latham and Damian McKenzie to promote the tournament, thought Blues coach Tana Umaga could also be up for a crowd-pleasing trot.

"He's been doing a bit of jiujitsu over the last couple of years to keep fit," Kaino said.

"I don't know, he might want to throw the player-coach hat on and see how things go.

"We're going to be at an iconic stadium, Suncorp, one of the best stadiums that us, growing up, could ever play at.

"A party atmosphere... that's the thing that I'm most looking forward to."

Latham and Kaino are set to square off in Pool B, where the Reds and Blues were drawn to also meet the Crusaders and Samoa.

Latham joked that he would wear yellow non-contact shorts to avoid being tackled by the imposing Kaino.

"One-handed touch and they'll have to pull up - there'll be those rules invented for me when I'm on the field," Latham said.

"I'll certainly make sure I do a bit of contact before I get into the game, I'll give you the tip.

"Hopefully with a lot more space, a few of the Reds' young up and coming stars, with the pace and size that they've got, it won't really matter anyway - just give them the ball before I hit contact."