Slap on the wrist for Lam

Connacht coach Pat Lam received a slap on the wrist, a fine, for his verbal attack on an assistant referee.

Lam this week appeared before a Pro12 disciplinary committee, in respect of a misconduct complaint brought against him by disciplinary officer Jon Davis.

The misconduct complaint arose from comments made by Lam to media representatives after the Pro12 match between Cardiff Blues and Connacht on March 6 and, more specifically, was that Lam had, in those comments, publicly criticised and/or questioned the integrity of one of the assistant referees from that match, Leighton Hodges.

The disciplinary committee, comprising Rod McKenzie as chairman and Rob Flockhart (both Scotland), heard submissions on behalf of the disciplinary officer and Lam, and considered evidence of the incident in question.

Lam accepted that his actions constituted misconduct.

The disciplinary committee upheld the misconduct complaint and found that 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 Hodges.

By way of sanction, the disciplinary committee fined Lam €8,000 (€5,000 of which is to be suspended).

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).

The disciplinary officer, Davis, commented: "We welcome the disciplinary committee's decision in this case.

"While we understand that passions and emotions run high during and after matches, we have to uphold the reputation of the tournament and protect our match officials from public criticism and attacks on their character.

"If coaches or others wish to provide feedback – positive or negative – on the performance of match officials, we at Pro12 welcome that feedback, but there is a clear mechanism for providing that feedback privately."

Lam has a right of appeal.