Pat Lam Stands Firm Amidst Bristol Bears' Record Defeat and Future Speculations
Pat Lam, the long-serving director of rugby for Bristol Bears, firmly dismissed concerns about his future following a record-breaking defeat to Northampton. In a pre-match press conference ahead of the crucial clash against Bath on Friday, Lam confidently stated, "Yes," when asked if he remains the right man for the job. Having recently celebrated his ninth anniversary with the Bears and with two years left on his contract, Lam emphasized his focus on the upcoming match rather than speculation regarding his position. He remarked, "I don't need to explain, I'm here to talk about Bath, we are excited about Friday night." The defeat at Franklin's Gardens marked a historic moment, with Northampton scoring the most points in an English top-flight game and setting a record for first-half points. This loss left the Bears sixth in the Premiership, trailing Exeter by five points for the final playoff spot. Lam reflected on the heavy defeat, stating, "I have never been involved in that type of game as a player or a coach, but you move through, pick everyone up… The only thing that is going to matter is performance." Despite the challenges, Lam expressed confidence in his resilient team, noting their ability to respond positively after setbacks. He shared, "I just put my pen down, sat back and said 'let's just endure this and see where we go from here.'" As he approaches his tenth year with the club, Lam conveyed his excitement about the journey with the Bears, highlighting the progress made over the years. "There are photos up on the walls here of every year… we have come a long way as a club," he concluded.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-28