Super Rugby
NZRU boss Tew backs Lam
ESPNscrum Staff
April 12, 2012
Blues coach Pat Lam fields questions from the media, Blues training session, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand, April 9, 2012
Pat Lam has found himself in the spotlight after the Blues' poor start to the season © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Steve Tew | Sir Graham Henry | Pat Lam
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New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew has backed Pat Lam and claims that he has no plans to sack the Blues boss.

The Blues are struggling in the current Super Rugby season with just one win to their name despite possessing a squad which includes a host of All Blacks. And with rumours pointing towards former Kiwi boss Graham Henry taking charge of the beleaguered side, Tew has announced that he has no plans to alter the current coaching set-up at the Auckland franchise.

"We've got Sir Graham contracted and Sir Graham has a programme of work that includes spending time with the Blues and he's doing that but he's also spending time at the Hurricanes who we were having similar conversations about this time last year," Tew said. "There's always going to be a team under pressure because they [the Blues] are coming last in the New Zealand conference.

"This year it's the Blues, last year it wasn't. So we will use Sir Graham, but we're not going to put Sir Graham in fulltime to coach the Blues, that's not something that the Blues want or that we think would be appropriate right now."

And in response to the racial abuse that Lam has received, Tew expressed his disgust at the incident.

"As a national body, we have a zero tolerance for any racial abuse or activity, that goes without saying," Tew said. "As a New Zealander, because I don't think this is only a rugby issue, I'm appalled. I find the whole ability by people to hide behind social media and be faceless and to criticise people personally and to bring race and religion or anything else into it, is just a very disappointing part of our country."

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