He left the Eels at the end of the 2015 season and, armed with a commerce degree he picked up during his stint at the University of Otago, he headed home to Northland.
He was keen to pursue his rugby career, though, and there was an opportunity to play for Northland.
He had played for the Otago B team in his last year in Dunedin and was keen to see where rugby would take him.
As it turns out it took him a lot further than Northland - he ended up in Canada.
The 23-year-old was born in Canada and spent the first three years of his life living there. And after a conversation with his agent, Larsen was offered an opportunity to go to Canada and try out for the national team.
His first appearance for his native country was against the Maori All Blacks in an exhibition game in November.
''It all happened fairly quickly at the end of the Mitre 10 Cup and was really exciting,'' he said.
''That was not a test so my international debut was a week later against Georgia.''
Larsen has played seven games for Canada and has also chalked up 11 games for Northland. But with three Super Rugby contracted locks ahead of him in the Taniwha, he has made the move south in the hope of cracking the Otago team.
''That is my goal, so whatever it takes to do that I'll be willing to do it.
''But it starts with club footy and getting stuck in at training.''
And training is all Larsen has done so far. Taieri had a bye during the topsy-turvy opening round but will get its season under way against Dunedin at Kettle Park tonight.
Dunedin was the only semifinalist from last year to win its opening game with Southern, Kaikorai and Harbour all losing.
Dunedin cruised to a 34-3 win against Alhambra-Union and will be a tricky first assignment for a Taieri team which has had a couple of lean seasons.
''It will be a tough game. I heard they put away Alhambra quite comfortably. But the club comp looks real close this year.
''When I was down here a couple of years ago I think we beat Green Island by about 80 points.''
Green Island had it first win against Southern in six years on the weekend, while Zingari-Richmond shocked Harbour to win the Challenge Shield.