Contender For Connacht Job Rules Himself Out

Pat Lam is set to depart Connacht at the end of the season.

The former Samoa captain revealed back in December that he would be leaving the province at the end of the season to take up the vacant Director of Rugby role with Premiership strugglers Bristol.

Since then there has been much speculation as to who will succeed the former Samoa captain. It now been revealed today however, that Connacht forwards coach Jimmy Duffy will not be that man.

Duffy has said he isn’t considering becoming Pat Lam’s successor when the Kiwi departs the Sportsground at the end of the season. Connacht take on Zebre in the Champions Cup this Saturday and speaking at the team’s press conference, Duffy appeared to rule himself out of contention.

“As of three weeks’ ago, whenever it was [Lam’s departure] was announced, I was the forwards’ coach,” the former Connacht player said.

“It is not something that I’d consider to be honest. I’m just concentrating on my job at the minute and trying to do that as best I can.”

Duffy joined the province’s coaching team for pre-season after working as Elite Player Development Officer in the successful Connacht Rugby Academy since 2011. Duffy has been the head coach of Connacht Rugby’s U-20s for the past four seasons and assistant coach to Nigel Carolan with the Connacht Eagles, and previously for seven seasons with Ireland U-18s.