Best thing to do is to study a mod from here that does something similar.

Try this: create a plugin using hook location forumhome_start and code like this:

as the comment says, insert the code you posted above, but remove the <?php from the beginning and the ?> from the end.

Next, edit the FORUMHOME template and insert {vb:raw backlinks} where you want it to appear.

Edit: if you want step by step instructions for creating a plugin, see the vbulletin manual here: http://www.vbulletin.com/en/manual/ . First select your vb version from the dropdown menu, then search for "plugin" and select "Adding or Editing a Plugin" from the results. It's pretty easy, you just have to paste the code I posted, then paste yours in at the comment and remove the <?php and ?>, then fill in the other form fields as needed (see the manual page for that). If you don't know what to put for something, you can probably leave the default.

good post, but cant find the page where it is described, google also no help, would be good if you update your post to link to manual or better paste it into the post.

Yeah, sorry, it's just that the manual pages show in a frame so the browser url just goes to the manual home page. But I think this will work: http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/main/add_plugin

As most of other users said, you can't add PHP code to the template. But you can easily add templates in a PHP file. The results will be exactly what you want.

1.- Create 2 templates. One for header and one for footer:

a] For Header (is just as example):
a] For Footer (is just as example):
2.- In your PHP file (assuming that is a file which loads all vB functions that you need, add (again is an example):
............Hera you can add any PHP code that you like..............
Simple thing and works 100%. I build a complicated Ajax search form using this trick. And is 100% compatible with vBulletin meaning that you can use vboptions, vbphrase, datamanager etc.

Nick