Former All Black and Samoan international Pat Lam will coach Super 14 side the Blues for the next three years.

Lam, 39, has coached NZ provincial side Auckland since 2004, with his team unbeaten last year in winning the domestic title.

Lam said he felt it was time to put up his hand for the next challenge.

"I'm very proud of the achievements of the Auckland team and have relished my role as coach for the last four years," he said in a statement.

"However, I have aspired to coach a team in the Super 14, ideally the Blues.

"That opportunity has arrived and I'm delighted."

Lam's four-year tenure with Auckland has included two championship titles plus one play-off spot. Prior to that he was assistant coach of Scotland for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Blues chief executive Andy Dalton said he was confident Lam was the right man to succeed Australian David Nucifora.

"Pat is an excellent coach with a very good understanding of New Zealand rugby and the way the professional environment works," Dalton said.

"The board and I have no doubt he will embrace the challenge of stepping up to the Super 14 level."

The Blues assistant coach's position as well as the Auckland job will be advertised this week.

Lam will hand over the Auckland coaching duties at the end of next month.

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