Former All Blacks Sevens star makes cross-code switch as ‘special opportunity’ arises

Adam Kyriacou 08 Aug 2024 1:33 PM

Former All Blacks Sevens star Ben Lam has made a cross-code switch to rugby league side Catalans Dragons, joining the Super League outfit with immediate effect.

The 33-year-old, who has represented the Blues and Hurricanes in New Zealand and Bordeaux-Begles Montpellier in France, is a box office arrival for the club.

Lam has inked a contract with the Dragons until the end of 2024 and admitted it was a “special opportunity” to join the club as they look to charge for the title.

Super League move

“I’m excited to be joining the Dragons. To learn and have a new experience at a great club is a special opportunity for me. I look forward to what this year brings,” the wing told Catalans’ website.

Lam made his bow for the Blues in 2012 before he joined the Hurricanes where he shone, scoring 33 tries in 56 matches as he pushed for an All Blacks call-up.

However, he never managed to pull on the famous black jersey and chose to switch to the Top 14 where he joined Bordeaux-Begles and later Montpellier.

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In 2023 Lam, who is the nephew of former Samoan back-row Pat Lam, turned out for that country at the World Cup where he played two of their pool fixtures.

Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara is thrilled to have signed the former New Zealand Sevens finisher and has been impressed by the player’s hunger.

“Ben has shown a real desire to try rugby league and has made a big personal commitment to give himself every chance to be successful at it,” said McNamara.

“We are really happy to give him the opportunity. His pedigree in rugby union is there to see and it is with great interest that we wait to see if we can help him turn that quality into rugby league.”

Catalans Dragons sporting director Neil McIlroy added: “The opportunity to sign an experienced rugby union player like Ben was too good to pass up.

“He has a genuine desire to play rugby league before the end of his career.

“He turned down opportunities in rugby union in France to undertake a trial period with us until Christmas. After that, we will decide whether the transition has been successful or not.

“He will train with the Dragons and have the chance to get game time with our reserve team St Estève XIII Catalan. It will be interesting to see if his power and experience in rugby union can adapt to rugby league.”

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