Pat Lam to coach Barbarians against England in Quilter Cup

Bristol coach Pat Lam is to take charge of the Barbarians against England on 27 May at Twickenham Stadium in the Quilter Cup.

COACH NEWS 🗞

Our coach for May’s match v @EnglandRugby 🌹 is @Bristol_RFC’s Pat Lam 👌

We’re proud to have an old Baa Baas player coaching the club 👏#rugby #rugbyunited 🏉 pic.twitter.com/t482iQEl3i

— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) April 12, 2018

Lam’s Bristol side celebrated a return to the top flight with two matches to spare after beating Nottingham last weekend and then watching title rivals Ealing lose at Doncaster.

The former Samoa number eight's final assignment of the season will be to take charge of the Barbarians for the Quilter Cup match at Twickenham, when the Baa-baas will be chasing a first win over England since 2014.

"It’s a great memory so to be asked to be involved again and to coach the Barbarians is a real privilege – I’m really looking forward to it,” said Lam, who ended his own playing career as captain for the Barbarians in stunning style, scoring the final try of the match when they beat Wales 40-25 in 2002 – after trailing 25-0 at half time.

"I was blessed to play six times for the Barbarians against England, Wales, Scotland, Australia, and It was such an enjoyable experience. 

"I played the game as an amateur and then as a professional and in the Barbarians you get a touch of both. It’s got that old school charm where you spend time building friendships, enjoying what you do on the field and off it, and the quality of players and people you were involved with was great."

Lam was a European Cup winner with Northampton Saints, a Premiership champion with Newcastle Falcons and coached Auckland, the Blues and Samoa before his successful spell at Connacht and move to Bristol last summer.