Luatua will stay loyal to Bristol says Lam

BRISTOL supremo Pat Lam insists no amount of persuasion from New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen will tempt star back rower Steven Luatua to quit the club and head home in order to fight for an All Blacks place.

Hansen was effusive in his praise of Luatua following the player’s barnstorming display for the Barbarians against New Zealand last weekend, regretting Luatua’s loss and expressing a desire to see him back in the mix.

However, defiant Lam said: “Steven isn’t going anywhere, certainly for the next two seasons. He’s contracted to Bristol, he’s made his decision and he’s enjoying it. He’s been a real positive influence here.

“The nature of professional rugby means no longer are you just playing for your club, province or country; you’re going to move and the loyalty in the game now is to the group of people you’re contracted to.

“Steven’s embraced it all at Bristol and he’s the sort of guy who commits himself. I’ve committed myself to Bristol for three years and I’ll honour that, and Steven’s delivering exactly what we want from him too.”

Lam, meanwhile, has called on World Rugby to fully investigate the circumstances that have brought Samoan rugby to its knees, holding to account those responsible for the Samoan association being declared bankrupt.

Lam, a star of Samoa’s their successful World Cup campaigns of 1991 and 1999, said: “The frustrating thing is individually, players have done well in their own careers.

“I was involved with Samoa in 2012 and we had a good squad that got up to seventh in the world, which caused the World Cup ‘pool of death’ with England, Wales and Australia together.

“It saddens me to hear the latest news and World Rugby must investigate properly, find out what’s happened and the people who’ve allowed this situation to happen must be held accountable.

“We’ve got five Bristol boys on the current tour who want to do their best, but they need to be well resourced and prepared.”