Lam, Smith to lead APBs in charity clash v Saracens
Blues coach Pat Lam and Wallabies legend George Smith will take charge of the star-studded BGC APBs for their Chartis Cup clash against English giants Saracens at Hong Kong Stadium tomorrow week.
Samoa icon Lam will be head coach with Smith - veteran of 110 tests for Australia and the most-capped forward in rugby history - acting as his assistant.
'I'm really looking forward to being involved with a squad that contains so many world-class players,' said Lam. 'As a coach, you want to work with the best talent available and the line-up that has been assembled certainly fits that description.
'We are relishing the challenge posed by the famous Saracens ,' said Lam, who played in three World Cups and took charge of the Auckland-based Blues in 2009.
Smith, meanwhile, enjoyed a stellar 10-year career as a flanker with the Brumbies and Wallabies, including being the only player to twice win the John Eales Medal, given to the Australian player of the year.
Since retiring from internationals in 2010, he has played club rugby in France and Japan.
The APBs squad includes New Zealand greats Mils Muliaina, Jerry Collins and Rico Gear; Welsh legends Shane Williams and Martyn Williams; and the Tuilagi brothers, Alesana and Henry, from Samoa.
Former England skipper Steve Borthwick will lead a powerful Saracens team that includes 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit and England internationals Richard Wigglesworth and Hugh Vyvyan.
