'Family Reunion' - Wallabies fly half Tom Lynagh excited to have younger brother Nic join the Reds

Tom Lynagh, who’s been training with the club side during their pre-season, following sitting out of the Wallabies’ Northern Hemisphere tour, is already seeing the rise in intensity as the internationals return to club training.

He reported that: “Block One [of pre-season] was really good, without all the Wallabies boys here. I feel like we got a lot of work done, and a lot of things that we’re adding to our game plan. So we did all the basics there and all the fundamentals, and now with all the Wallabies boys back, it’s gone up another level.”

He continued: “It adds a lot of leadership. There’s a lot of leaders out there: you’ve got Fraser [McReight], new skipper, [Harry Wilson], Lukhan [Salakaia-Loto]; so everyone’s back around and bringing a new voice back to the squad.”

Lynagh, now a seven-time capped Wallaby, played against the British & Irish Lions, as well as in the Rugby Championship, before sitting out of their Autumn Nations Series campaign through injury.

The fly-half rested all injury worries, claiming: “The body's feeling a little better, I’ve had a lot of time to work over a few things and get the body properly right for Super Rugby this year and that was the whole plan on not going on Spring tour; also to look after the head, which is fine.

“The hammy was the main factor: I had a lot of strain from that, from the first Argentina game up in Townsville, and it sort of lingered around for the next couple of months and never got better unfortunately.”

Joining Tom at the Reds this season will be his youngest brother Nic. The 18-year-old is the youngest of the Lynagh brothers, and has arrived from the Harlequins Academy, having spent only a few months in their set-up after moving from Richmond.

Having spent two months now already in the club’s pathway set up, Nic reflected: “The lads have been very welcoming, and have really had a positive attitude on me. I’d say training’s a lot different than in the UK; I’ve been telling everyone that it’s always raining. It’s -2°C in the UK now, and some of my mates have been training in the snow. So, definitely a lot more lush here.”

Having been influenced to make the move by brother Nic, the full-back is determined to make the move to the other side of the world work.

“He’s only said good things about the Reds. When he told me about how they play, obviously I watched on the telly in the UK. Obviously it was quite early in the morning sometimes, but I managed to get myself up and watch. You can clearly see their style of rugby, and that really fascinated me. I want to be a part of it.”

On the difference in playstyle, he commented: “I’ve been told they play a lot of touch footy when they’re younger, so I can see there’s a lot of offloading and a lot of fitness, because obviously the heat, and that gets them very fit.”

Middle-brother Tom is excited for his family reunion, and has all the belief that the two brothers will be playing well together in the future.

He discussed that: “Nic’s had a few challenges along the way, as have most rugby players. But he’s done well at school and for Harlequins Academy as well. From being over here, I was watching him play and I see a lot of potential in him. He’s taken the chance like I did to come over here, and mine worked out so I don't see why his won’t. I’m very confident in him and I'm sure he’ll do great things.”