Quick Facts
Biography
Patrick Richard Lam (born 29 September 1968) is a New Zealand born rugby union coach of Samoan descent. He was previously an international player, with his position of choice being Number 8.
Playing career
Lam attended St Peter's College, Grafton, and captained the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team. He played at loose forward for Auckland, North Harbour and Crusaders, before moving to England where he first played for Newcastle Falcons. In his first season at Newcastle he made 22 appearances as they won the 1997-98 Premiership. However, after that triumph he moved on to Northampton Saints, with whom he won the 1999–2000 Heineken Cup. Lam moved back to Newcastle Falcons for the 2001–02 season, playing with the club for a year before retiring.
Lam was capped once by the All Blacks in 1992 (All Black no. 928) in a non-test game against Sydney. He had played for Samoa first in 1991 and went on to captain them and represented them in three World Cups, retiring from international rugby after the 1999 tournament. Samoa reached the 1991 and 1995 quarter-finals against expectations.
Lam has also represented the Barbarians. He was called up to the squad in 2002, and made his debut against England as a replacement, scoring a try. In his second game for the side, Lam captained the team, leading the Baa-Baas to victory over Wales, and scoring another try in what was his final game before retirement.
Coaching career
Lam's first managerial position was as an assistant coach to Scotland at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He was head coach of Auckland from 2004 until 2008. During his Auckland tenure he also coached the Pacific Islanders in 2006. He was head coach of Super Rugby team the Blues from 2009 to 2012.
He worked with Samoa on the team's 2012 tour. Samoa's victories saw it reach eighth in the IRB rankings, and a secure second tier position for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Lam was appointed as head coach of the Pro 12 side, Connacht Rugby in Ireland, ahead of the 2013-14 season. On 28 May 2016, Connacht won their first ever major trophy, the 2015–16 Pro12 after a 20–10 win against Leinster in the final.
On 5 December 2016, it was announced that Lam would be leaving Connacht at the end of the season to take up a coaching role with Bristol.
Honours
Player
- English Premiership 1998
- Heineken Cup 2000
- RPA players player of the year 2000
Manager
- ITM Cup 2005, 2007
- Pro12 2016
- "BBC Sport - Harlequins' Nick Evans wins RPA players' player of year award". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2013-09-21.