Disciplinary Update – Pat Lam
For immediate release: Friday 20 March 2015
Issued on behalf of GUINNESS PRO12 Rugby
Pat Lam, the Connacht Rugby head coach, appeared on Thursday, 19 March 2015 before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, in respect of a misconduct complaint brought against Mr Lam by the Disciplinary Officer of PRO12 Rugby, Jon Davis. The misconduct complaint arose from comments made by Mr Lam to media representatives after the PRO12 match between Cardiff Blues and Connacht Rugby on 6 March 2015 and, more specifically, was that Mr Lam had, in those comments, publicly criticised and/or questioned the integrity of one of the assistant referees from that match, Leighton Hodges.
The Disciplinary Committee, comprising Rod McKenzie as chairman and Rob Flockhart (both Scotland), heard submissions on behalf of the Disciplinary Officer and Mr Lam, and considered evidence of the incident in question. Mr Lam accepted that his actions constituted misconduct.
The Disciplinary Committee upheld the misconduct complaint and found that Mr Lam had made comments shortly after the match in an interview with representatives of a broadcaster, and separately in a press conference, that had been critical of and/or had questioned the integrity of Mr Hodges. By way of sanction, the Disciplinary Committee fined Mr Lam €8,000 (€5,000 of which is to be suspended). Mr Lam, who had received a written warning from the Disciplinary Officer about similar conduct last season, was also ordered to pay a contribution to the costs of the hearing (including the legal costs incurred by the Disciplinary Officer).
The Disciplinary Officer, Mr Davis, commented: ‘PRO12 Rugby welcomes the Disciplinary Committee’s decision in this case. While we understand that passions and emotions run high during and after matches, we have to uphold the reputation of the tournament and protect our match officials from public criticism and attacks on their character. If coaches or others wish to provide feedback – positive or negative – on the performance of match officials, we at PRO12 welcome that feedback, but there is a clear mechanism for providing that feedback privately.’
Mr Lam has a right of appeal.