Pat Lamb appointed Head Coach at Connacht

evil_seed

Connacht Rugby has appointed Pat Lam as Head Coach to replace the outgoing Eric Elwood.

The 44 year old has accepted a two year contract with the option to extend for a further period. Lam represented the All Blacks in a tour match before going on to captain Samoa in a distinguished playing career which included spells with Newcastle Falcons and Northampton Saints where he lifted the Heineken Cup.

His coaching career includes a successful spell at Auckland in the New Zealand Provincial Championship from 2005-9 where he won the title in 2005 and 2007 before he went on to head up the Auckland Blues in the Super 15. Under Lam the Blues achieved their best finish for several years in 2011 reaching the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners the Queensland Reds. He has also been involved at international level as a consultant to both Scotland and Samoa, most recently on the Pacific Islanders highly successful UK tour late last year when they claimed the scalps of both Wales and Canada which saw them make the top eight of the IRB World Rankings.

Chief Executive Tom Sears said:

“The appointment of our next coach is a huge decision for Connacht Rugby and at the end of an extensive process we are delighted to be able to appoint Pat Lam.

“The position attracted worldwide interest enabling us to select from an incredibly strong field and we are convinced Pat has all the qualities and credentials to take Connacht forward. Allied to his experience and technical expertise he displayed an excellent knowledge of Connacht, of where we are, what we aim to achieve, the obstacles we face and how we can ultimately achieve our objective of becoming one of the leading sides in European rugby.

“Throughout the selection process Pat displayed a real affinity to what Connacht Rugby means and that was crucial to us. He will no doubt bring about progressive changes but he is also extremely committed to retaining and building on the qualities that make Connacht unique.”

Pat Lam said:

“My family and I are truly blessed to have another opportunity to be part of a new community and country and we are looking forward to the exciting challenge ahead at Connacht.

“I was very impressed by the Board’s vision for Connacht Rugby and the fighting spirit of the team and supporters to persevere against all the odds. I'm looking forward to working with good people to build on the great work that Eric has done."

Pat Lam will take up the role of Head Coach, commencing June 1st 2013. Eric Elwood will remain in the position for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.

thomond2006

All kiwi coaches (or is Lam Samoan?) in the provinces next season so.

Glass Prison 1214

thomond2006 wrote: »

All kiwi coaches (or is Lam Samoan?) in the provinces next season so.

As long as they are successful its fine with me.

I think he is an excellent appointment for Connacht, he comes over with a similar reputation and CV as Schmidt, Penney and Anscombe so I think he will really help bring Connacht on another level.

phog

Let's hope he can bring in a few players that will help them move up the Rabo table and challenge the other 3 provinces for a H/Cup spot. Best of luck to all involved in Connacht.

irishbucsfan

Hopefully he is as good as the other kiwis.

I hope the irish guys in connacht are kept on. Or if Lam brings his own guys (which id welcome) I'd hope the irish guys get work elsewhere for next season.

trishasaffron

I read this initially as Pet Lamb appointed Head Coach at Connacht:o

f1dan

trishasaffron wrote: »

I read this initially as Pet Lamb appointed Head Coach at Connacht:o

I would have loved to have seen Eddie O'Sullivan's reaction to that

Robbo

As I marked earlier on, what odds on the first hack running a "Connemara Lam" headline?

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Hopefully he is as good as the other kiwis.

I hope the irish guys in connacht are kept on. Or if Lam brings his own guys (which id welcome) I'd hope the irish guys get work elsewhere for next season.

Is McFarland Irish? Forshaw and Millard certainly aren't anyway. I can't see Nigel Carolan going as academy director, but the other coaches are out of contract at the end of this season so there may be changes alright...

irishbucsfan

Zzippy wrote: »

Is McFarland Irish? Forshaw and Millard certainly aren't anyway. I can't see Nigel Carolan going as academy director, but the other coaches are out of contract at the end of this season so there may be changes alright...

I thought mcfarland and millar were, my mistake!

[Jackass]

thomond2006 wrote: »

All kiwi coaches (or is Lam Samoan?) in the provinces next season so.

Samoan, but he was capped as an All Black before having a great career captaining Samoa. Heineken Cup winning captain too.

Very good appointment, dare I say, on paper at least, he has a stronger playing career and coaching background than Penney, Annscombe (sp?) and possibly Schmidt had on their appointment I would say!! Great ambition shown by Connacht.

Will be interesting to see where they go from here. Would be great to see them become a consistant play-off contender in the league and continue to make an impact in Europe.

I feel if / when Connacht end up back in the Amlin, they'll be considerably stronger than when they were there last. Heineken Cup rugby is the best thing that's ever happened to them, I could see them as being serious contenders in the Amlin if they ended up back in there next season.

GerM

Lam is Kiwi. Samoan heritage but born and bred Aucklander.

shuffol

Not bothered about all the provincial coaches being foreign as long as they're the right quality, however I'd hope that the provinces ensure that there's some Irish coaches in key backroom roles and being groomed for a possible career as a head coach in the future. I wouldnt be happy with a non Irish backroom team.

[Jackass]

GerM wrote: »

Lam is Kiwi. Samoan heritage but born and bred Aucklander.

You're correct, sorry was referring to his playing career, wasn't sure where he was actually from.

Zzippy

[Jackass] wrote: »

I feel if / when Connacht end up back in the Amlin, they'll be considerably stronger than when they were there last. Heineken Cup rugby is the best thing that's ever happened to them, I could see them as being serious contenders in the Amlin if they ended up back in there next season.

Its ok, we'll be in the Heineken next season after Leinster win the Amlin this year!

.ak

I was going to fix the thread title, but it's too hilarious.

thomond2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ1ZDPOn8Q

Fishooks13

thomond2006 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ1ZDPOn8Q

Say goodbye to wearing t-shirts outdoors Pat

irishbucsfan

Overshadows the game a bit unfortunately.

CatFromHue

I wish him and Connacht the best. Unlike Bradley and Elwood he is an experienced head coach already so hopefully he'll start to make an impact straight away.

thebaz

Not sure of his coaching ability , but if Connacht perform anything like him as a player - top quality

JustinDee

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Say goodbye to wearing t-shirts outdoors Pat

Ever been to NZ, even north island, during winter?

Fishooks13

JustinDee wrote: »

Ever been to NZ, even north island, during winter?

Ah they get a summer at least!

danthefan

He's a really great guy apparently, Keith Wood speaks highly of him. He had some good seasons at the Blues and I reckon he'll do a good job if he settles in.

Jedwardian

shuffol wrote: »

Not bothered about all the provincial coaches being foreign as long as they're the right quality, however I'd hope that the provinces ensure that there's some Irish coaches in key backroom roles and being groomed for a possible career as a head coach in the future. I wouldnt be happy with a non Irish backroom team.

What I want is the best coaches in charge and nationality doesn't come into it. There's no point hamstringing teams with rubbish coaches just because they're Irish. Hopefully Joe Schmidt, Rob Penney, Mark Anscombe and Pat Lam can have a positive influence on up and coming Irish coaches and in future years the best quality coaches are from this island.

pickarooney

Robbo wrote: »

As I marked earlier on, what odds on the first hack running a "Connemara Lam" headline?

And after his first heavy defeat in charge "Lam to the slaughter" and eventually "Pat on the Lam" when he leaves after a poor run of results.

Swiwi

thomond2006 wrote: »

All kiwi coaches (or is Lam Samoan?) in the provinces next season so.

Well, there's a can of worms, Thomond...

...which I won't open.

Swiwi

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Say goodbye to wearing t-shirts outdoors Pat

In fairness, it doesn't get that cold in Galway, but he will need a rainjacket, that's for sure.

Swiwi

thomond2006 wrote: »

All kiwi coaches (or is Lam Samoan?) in the provinces next season so.

From our Irish pundit (or is Thomond2006 Munster?)

Swiwi

Swiwi wrote: »

Well, there's a can of worms, Thomond...

...which I won't open.

It's not really a can of worms though is it?

We are Irish Rugby supporters.

Not "Irish Coaches of Rugby" supporters.

I'd want the best man/woman/child for the job. Simple as.

It's disappointing that we're not producing top level coaches, but that's not the remit of any of the players, that's a completely different 'problem'.

Swiwi

Deleted User wrote: »

It's not really a can of worms though is it?

We are Irish Rugby supporters.

Not "Irish Coaches of Rugby" supporters.

I'd want the best man/woman/child for the job. Simple as.

It's disappointing that we're not producing top level coaches, but that's not the remit of any of the players, that's a completely different 'problem'.

Oh, you've utterly missed the can of worms emmet. I mean whether Lam is Samoan, Kiwi, or Samoan Kiwi...

Swiwi

Swiwi wrote: »

Oh, you've utterly missed the can of worms emmet. I mean whether Lam is Samoan, Kiwi, or Samoan Kiwi...

irishbucsfan

I think it's quite interesting that everyone who discusses the Kiwi coaches in Ireland follows it up by mentioning O'Shea, McCall and Bradley as coaches abroad as justification,

No one seems to mention Easterby. Does this mean we're officially giving him back to the Brits?! Because he's another Irish coach doing well abroad if not.

rrpc

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think it's quite interesting that everyone who discusses the Kiwi coaches in Ireland follows it up by mentioning O'Shea, McCall and Bradley as coaches abroad as justification,

No one seems to mention Easterby. Does this mean we're officially giving him back to the Brits?! Because he's another Irish coach doing well abroad if not.

I'd say people just forget. Although he was a stalwart for Ireland (most capped flanker), pretty much all of his club rugby was played in Wales and specifically for Llanelli.

CatFromHue

irishbucsfan wrote: »

No one seems to mention Easterby. Does this mean we're officially giving him back to the Brits?! Because he's another Irish coach doing well abroad if not.

I'd say he's an Irish coach who's abroad, the doing well bit is debatable.

He's also only in his first season as head coach so wouldn't be on too many peoples radar just yet.

CatFromHue

Sean Holley is joining Lanelli during the 6N, it appears temporarily as one of their coaches will be with Wales.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8406302,00.html