Lam fined for comments

Editor

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has been fined by a PRO12 disciplinary committee after his comments about match official, Leighton Hodges.

Lam appeared before the committee on Thursday in respect of a misconduct complaint from the Disciplinary Officer of PRO12 Rugby, Jon Davis.

The Connacht head coach gave an interview after the match against Cardiff Blues, a game they lost to a late try, which led to Lam being critical of 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," read a Pro12 statement.

"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)."

Lam has a right of appeal.