Former Kyuden Voltex full-back Chris Latham has been appointed as the head coach at Major League Rugby (MLR) outfit, the Chicago Hounds.
The Wallabies legend, who represented his country at three World Cups, has inked a three-year contract with the expansion franchise which was founded in 2022 and joined the MLR a year later.
Latham, 48, is best known for his 10-year playing tenure with Queensland Reds before he called time on his Wallabies career to join Worcester Warriors in England.
The four-time Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year finished his playing career in Japan with the second division side Kyuden Voltex in 2012.
After hanging up his boots, Latham worked as an assistant with Japanese side NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes and Samoa before his first head coach role with Utah Warriors in the shortened 2020 MLR campaign.
The New South Wales native spent the 2024 MLR season as the Seattle Seawolves’ assistant coach and helped to guide the team to the Western Conference title and an appearance in the MLR Championship Final.
Latham, who scored five tries in Australia’s record 142-0 win over Namibia at the 2003 World Cup - in what remains the largest winning margin in RWC history - said: “How's it going Hounds fans? New head coach Chris Latham here checking in from Brisbane, Queensland.
"I can't wait to get to Chicago and get started with the team. Big year for the Dawg Town. Up the Hounds."
Hounds CEO and General Manager James English said: "We are very excited to welcome Chris to Chicago.
“Chris is a class operator, with a wealth of experience at the top level of the game and a passion for developing and mentoring talent.”
The Hounds’ talent-laden ranks includes wing Nate Augspurger who scored two tries for USA in their losing effort against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup last Saturday.
Canada’s back-row forward Mason Flesch and scrum-half Jason Higgins, who both played in Kingsley Jones' team’s loss to Japan, and will feature against on Tonga on Saturday, are also part of the Illinois-based franchise.
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