The Connacht Clan are proud to announce that outgoing Connacht coach Pat Lam is to become the latest inductee to The Connacht Clan Hall of Fame.
Pat will be inducted at a ceremony in the Clan Bar at the Sportsground this Saturday approximately an hour after the final whistle is blown following the Connacht Scarlets match.
The former Samoan back row joined as Head Coach of Connacht Rugby in 2013 replacing Eric Elwood with his first competitive game in charge a 25-16 win over Zebre.
Pat’s tenure saw may great moments including Connacht’s historic win in the group stages of the Heineken Cup when they beat Toulouse at the Stade Ernest Wallon on the 8th of December 2013 by sixteen points to fourteen.
However, he will always have a special place in Connacht hearts after the province won the Guinness Pro 12 in the 2015/16 season following a memorable 20-10 final win over Leinster in Murrayfield, Connacht’s first ever major trophy.
Pat follows such greats as Eric Elwood, Michael Swift, Ciaran Fitzgerald and Andrew Farley who have already been inducted into the Clan Hall of Fame.
All Connacht Rugby fans are welcome to the ceremony, and to wish our soon to depart Head Coach all the best in his future endeavours.
I think though of those you've mentioned Culk, the only one that is moving on somewhere else is Pat, the rest were retiring, and if someone is going to be rewarded with HoF more or less every year then the most deserving have to be prioritised, if they waited 5 years there'd have to be people in the interim to be honoured and maybe then there'd be a lowering of the prestige as many of the clubs biggest heroes, the likes of Swifty, Eric and Pat have left roles recently, If Muldoon retires next year I'd find it hard to believe anybody would say we should have waited to see if he'd be reflected on as hall of fame material, and don't forget some of those in the hall of fame were long gone from Connacht Ciaran Fitzgerald for example.
theCulk wrote: Take as an example the NFL HoF. Players an get enshrined but only are eligible for the nominating process, a player or coach must have been retired for at least five years.
That type of criteria.
Ah hello, you're not really comparing a supporters club Hall of Fame with that of 32 Teams in the wealthiest League in the World..?
The budget of the NFL HOF is probably greater than all the Irish Pro12 teams combined...
Take as an example the NFL HoF. Players an get enshrined but only are eligible for the nominating process, a player or coach must have been retired for at least five years.
That type of criteria.
He deserves the H.o.f for what he has achieved with Connacht. His raised the bar for everyone in Connacht. They havent been able to reach that bar this year for a number of reasons but it isnt all his fault.
Its a bit unfortunate that he gets the award around the time were playing crap but thats just the way it is.
theCulk wrote: There's no doubt he does. I'm left wondering what the criteria for eligiblity is. Eric leaves - HoF, Swifty leaves - HoF, Pat leaves - HoF. All deserving but all granted on they're leaving the club. There should be a criteria for eligibily. That's what I'm saying
I'm confused like what criteria specifically. An outstanding contribution to Connacht Rugby isn't enough..?
And when should it be awarded then? Is it not better to reward them while they are available to receive it..?
Who's to say for example that the Bristol gig doesn't work out or for family reasons Pat is back under and unavailable to the Clan within a year or two...?
theCulk wrote: There's no doubt he does. I'm left wondering what the criteria for eligiblity is. Eric leaves - HoF, Swifty leaves - HoF, Pat leaves - HoF. All deserving but all granted on they're leaving the club. There should be a criteria for eligibily. That's what I'm saying
Hall of Fame does have criteria and whereas there is a strong case to give time to reflect on who (if any) should be awarded in any given year, in the last three years there have been such major leavers.. Eric (in particular) and Swifty gave such loyalty AND had such an impact on Connacht are so obvious for the HoF, and this year it was surely Pat Lam or no-one, and Pat’s impact brought us to heights hitherto only dreamt of.. Imagine if he wasn’t the recipient…
As I understand it, the criteria for eligibility already exists, someone else might confirm this for me.
What exactly would you like to see? Wait a couple of years until they've fecked off to another part of the planet and then fly them in specially to pick up their award?
Which inductee to-date hasn't been a deserving winner?
There's no doubt he does. I'm left wondering what the criteria for eligiblity is. Eric leaves - HoF, Swifty leaves - HoF, Pat leaves - HoF. All deserving but all granted on they're leaving the club. There should be a criteria for eligibily. That's what I'm saying
Not sure I understand your message Culk.
Are you suggesting that the man who came in and transformed Connacht rugby from top to bottom and managed the team to its first trophy in its 140 existence doesn't deserve to be in the hall of fame???????
Hey all! Thanks very much to those who came out yesterday evening. Not the result on the pitch, but was great to host Pat for the Hall of Fame, and Sean O'Brien as Young Player of the Year, and Tiernan as Player of the Year. Video of the event should be up during the week!
