Pat Lam Media Statement
Under fire Blues boss, Pat Lam.
COMMENTS REGARDING CITING COMMISSIONER
During a Blues’ media session on Wednesday 21 March, I was asked questions regarding the suspension of Luke Braid for three weeks, after he was cited for striking following our game in South Africa against the Stormers. In reply to those questions I made comments I should not have, criticising the New Zealand-based Citing Commissioner for what I perceived to be an inconsistency between Luke’s case and that of another player who had not been cited.
In releasing this statement, I wish to formally acknowledge it was not appropriate for me to make comments criticising the performance of the Citing Commissioner. Citing Commissioners are not in a position to enter into public debate around the merits of their decisions, and I accept that to personally criticise any official in that way is inappropriate. Accordingly I would like to apologise for the comments I made on this matter.
Whilst I am conscious of the obligations on all of us in the game to engage with the media, and through them, the rugby public, there are some matters which SANZAR seeks any feedback on in a private manner. It isn’t that those issues will not be discussed in the media, or that SANZAR or others in the game will not comment on them, but rather a question of how and when coaches and others should express concerns or frustrations about the game in a manner which can be constructive.
SANZAR has raised with me their concern that I made these critical comments, and advised me there may be a breach of the SANZAR Code of Conduct, which amongst other things, requires those of us involved in the game not to criticise officials in this way. In a radio interview last week and also personally to the Citing Commissioner involved, I have acknowledged that whilst I may have been frustrated, it wasn’t appropriate for me to make the comments in the manner I did and I apologise for doing so.
This statement is my final comment on the matter.
Pat Lam
Head Coach, Blues
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