Connacht head coach Pat Lam formally charged over touch judge comments

Pat Lam will have to appear before an independent disciplinary, after his post match comments about Welsh official Leighton Hodges.

The Connacht head coach has been formally charged by the Pro 12 this afternoon, for his comments about Hodges, who was a touch judge for their 18-17 defeat to the Cardiff Blues on Friday night. Connacht thought they has won the game when a Blues player appeared to knock on the ball, but the Blues were instead awarded a penalty, after Hodges told referee Lloyd Linton that a Connacht player had infringed at the ruck. The Blues went on to score a game-winning try, and afterwards, Lam was seething in his criticism. "At 83 minutes they knock the ball clearly on. There was no ruck, our guy came from onside, cleared the ball, game over, referee called game over, and Leighton Hodges from the side made the call that was completely wrong, factually." Lam said that they had made a formal complaint to the Pro 12 about Hodges' officiating, after comments he made to stewards at the Sportsground prior to Connacht's defeat to Edinburgh in January. "There are serious question marks on the call that was made and the statement that was made" The Pro 12 have reacted quickly by formally charging Lam for his comments this afternoon. A statement from the league said: "Pat Lam will be required to attend a disciplinary hearing, before an independent PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee, at a date yet to be determined." With Hodges due to take charge of Connacht's meeting with Munster at the end of the month, expect this controversy to run on and on.