Thursday 16 February 2017 12:33, UK
Pat Lam has accused Steve Hansen of "a personal attack on me and my family" for labelling him "an ex-New Zealander".
Hansen's comments came after All Blacks prospect Steven Luatua agreed a summer move to Bristol, where Lam will coach next season.
The New Zealand head coach said Luatua had "been tapped on the shoulder by Pat Lam", adding: "If you're an ex-New Zealander you should be a bit mindful about players' careers."
The jibe refers to an international career that saw Lam win one All Blacks cap before going on to represent Samoa at three World Cups.
But Lam, currently coach of Connacht, hit back: "I am not sure why Steve Hansen would unprecedentedly choose to single me out publicly and call me an 'ex-New Zealander'. I am a proud New Zealander and I'm also proud to be a Pacific Islander.
"The only reason we don't live in New Zealand at the moment is I had an opportunity to continue to coach rugby professionally in Ireland and support my family after being sacked by the NZRU and the Blues.
"Did Steve Hansen consider himself an ex-New Zealander when he chose to leave New Zealand and coach the Wales national team against the All Blacks? [Hansen was Wales boss from 2002-4].
"Myself and I'm sure many other New Zealanders who are living and working overseas do not consider ourselves ex-New Zealanders just because we are not living in New Zealand.
"When I have joined the thousands of other northern-based Kiwis who attended and cheered on the All Blacks in their Test matches in the northern hemisphere we certainly didn't do so as ex-New Zealanders."
Luatua's decision to join Bristol rules him out of international selection as New Zealand only pick home-based players.
