Pat Lam

Pat Lam is better known internationally for his involvement with Manu Samoa, for whom he qualified by parentage despite his Auckland birth.

But he played briefly for the All Blacks, being called into the 1992 tour of Australia because of injuries and making just the one appearance before being replaced in a heavy defeat to a Sydney selection.

Lam had his cameo appearance for the All Blacks even though in the previous year he had committed himself to Samoa and had played a leading role in their surprise success at the 1991 World Cup.

He was, however, very much a product of the New Zealand rugby system, showing exceptional promise as a first XV player at Auckland’s St Peter’s College. He captained the national secondary schools side in Japan in 1987, going on to then captain the New Zealand colts in 1989 and play for New Zealand the same year in international sevens tournaments.

But as a loose forward either as a flanker or No 8 Lam had trouble establishing a regular representative spot in what were then immensely strong Auckland lineups. Among his provincial rivals were Zinzan Brooke, Michael Jones and Mark Carter.

Between 1990 and 1994 he had 30 appearances for Auckland and to gain more chances he moved to North Harbour. In 1995-96 he played 16 matches for that union.

In 1996, too, he had been unable to secure a place in either of the two northern Super 12 franchises, the Blues or the Chiefs, and as a draft player he joined the Crusaders, but made only three appearances in a season in which the later immensely successful Canterbury-based franchise finished last.

By then Lam had become well established again with Manu Samoa. He played again for them at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa and by then the captaincy transistion from Peter Fatialofa to Lam was taking place. A trained teacher, Lam had many advantages, having been so thoroughly drilled in New Zealand practices. He was also something of a protege of the Auckland coach of the early to mid 1990s, Graham Henry.

Ironically, Lam’s greatest triumph came in the 1999 World Cup tournment when he led Samoa to a 38-31 win over the Henry-coached Wales side. Lam was in the veteran stage then but showed surprising speed to score one of Samoa’s tries.

In the last few years of his career Lam was able to maintain his links with Samoa through playing in English club rugby. He quit international rugby after Samoa’s quarterfinal playoff loss to the Scotland in 1999.

Lam’s first cousin was Dylan Mika, who was an All Black through the 1999 season. He, too, was a loose forward and the pair played against each other in a test when the All Blacks and Manu Samoa meet at the North Harbour Stadium in the early part of the 1999 season.