PAT LAM HAS says an effort to bring his own son in for three weeks to help offset an injury crisis in Connacht was shot down by the IRFU because he is a foreign player.

Mitch Lam played for the Connacht Eagles and Galwegians earlier this season, but efforts to draft in the 23-year old in the midst of a crippling spate of injuries to Connacht’s backline were unsuccessful, even though it would not have cost the province any money.

Lam at Connacht training back in October. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Connacht, with big South African signing Marnitz Boshoff out until March and Craig Ronaldson and Shane O’Leary not back yet after lengthy spells out, could now be heading to play Ospreys this weekend with replacement scrum-half Caolin Blade playing at out-half.

Lam is sweating on the availability of regular out-half Jack Carty — called into his first Irish squad this week — after he suffered a calf injury in national camp on Monday and was added to the growing list of players either out or doubtful for Saturday’s visit to Liberty Stadium to take on an Ospreys side who are second in the table.

And with over two dozen players injured or being rested, Lam has had insufficient numbers to train properly, with backs coach Conor McPhillips – a 35-year old former Connacht winger who retired in 2009 – having to step in as an out-half in training moves.

“Last week we had a midfield back-line for the Munster attack, of (props) Dave Heffernan and Shane Delahunt who were running 12 and 13 last week,” said Lam. ”We had more forwards running out in the backs.

“We just needed to get some sort of thing but obviously they don’t have the same finesse or intricacies of how to play the midfield. But that’s just making do with what you have and trying to adapt.”

The Connacht coach said that bringing in someone new for three or four weeks’ cover wasn’t practical as it would take them that length of time to learn the calls, and that’s why he looked at drafting in his son Mitch, as he had trained with the squad and was familiar with everything.

Mitch won't be making a return to the Connacht set-up. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Mitch subsequently played with English Championship side Nottingham following his spell playing with the Eagles and Galwegians earlier this season, but he will not be allowed to return to the Connacht set-up.

“It was just turned down by the IRFU because he is a foreigner. Mitch was going to cost nothing; he’s my son, so I wasn’t going to charge Connacht Rugby.

“We only needed somebody for three weeks because O’Leary is not far around the corner. Craig Ronaldson is not far, so it is just to cover off the injuries. All the new guys who have come in need three or four weeks to know our calls.

“It’s a language, the way we play. That was the whole purpose of asking Mitch to come up here because you have to know the plays, so I was just preparing for this situation. But that’s fine. I think all of the provinces have to go through the processes and ask the question.

“Straight away the answer was no. So we just train Caolin Blade, train Rory Parata, because at least they know the calls, Tiernan O’Halloran steps in there just in case we cover it, and Danie Poolman has had to step in to 12. It is better to have some guys there.

“We could get a possible Irish 10 who is playing club rugby but he would still need the three-week window. We need somebody here and now, because for the last three weeks we have no O’Leary, Ronaldson, Boshoff.

Scrum-half Caolin Blade is now covering the out-half position. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Hopefully O’Leary is not too far away next week so that will help ease the situation. It’s only to cover for the three weeks,” added Lam.

The reigning champions will be without skipper John Muldoon, flanker Nepia Fox-Matmaua and Irish lock Ultan Dillane for the trip to Swansea, with Dillane now a major doubt for the start of the Six Nations with an ankle injury.

The 23-year-old, who has chalked up eight caps since his debut last season against England, faces up to six weeks out and that could be longer if he requires surgery.

“Minimum he is out five to six weeks,” said Lam. “But the specialist will work out whether he can do the conservative. When you do a high-ankle sprain it’s either surgery to tighten it up or you do the conservative and just go for the rehab.

“So normally if it’s just the rehab it’s five to six weeks,” added Lam.

Irish internationals Finlay Bealham and Matt Healy are also doubts for this weekend with stomach bugs.