Cead Mile Failte Padraig !

connachtexile wrote: Happy to have this sorted. It's good that we also have a 'name'. A lot of players will know who Pat Lam is and will want to work with him. It might make recruitment a little bit easier.

Exactly, I feel for Dan McFarland who has put in great work over the years as Forwards & Assistant Coach and probably deserved a shot at the job, but he doesn't have anywhere near the profile that Pat Lam does outside of UK & Ireland which could be critical during recruitment...

Happy to have this sorted. It's good that we also have a 'name'. A lot of players will know who Pat Lam is and will want to work with him. It might make recruitment a little bit easier.

If he is like all other NZ coaches, he will focus on skills first before structure. Could be lots of teething, but in long run, we should improve.

Glad this is sorted and overall think we've made a good decision.

Lets hope he can get to work soon and try and move Connacht forward.

Do we know if Pat will be joining the club prior to June 1st, on a transitionary basis? He does say in the video that he looks forward to 'going up there as soon as possible'.

I think it's a positive move, and I'm glad - with due respect to the candidates concerned - that we have gone for an outsider. For all the great days in the last few years, we've all seen mistakes, and missed opportunities on a far too regular basis. A fresh viewpoint is an ideal way of addressing that.

This is really exciting news, Lam has a different mindset a lot of experience both coaching and winning and I think he will set a new standard for what is expected from everyone at Connacht.

Welcome Pat Lam.

Here's to the future! Welcome aboard Pat!

The more I think about this appointment, the more I like it. He has international assistant coaching experience with Samoa and Scotland, international head coaching experience with the Pacific Islands, won two New Zealand domestic championships with Auckland and while it's fair to say his job with the Blues brought mixed results, he's coached world class players and will undoubtedly have learned a lot from that job. Any number of ex-Auckland and Blues players in Ireland (John Afoa, Jared Payne, Isa Nacewa) could have been contacted to find out if he was a quality coach so the fact that he's been given the position is a good sign.

Looking forward to seeing what next season brings

Welcome to Connacht, Pat. Hope you enjoy your time here and that it is a successful tenure.

Figured this deserves its own thread. Huge news

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.