The ‘lost’ Lynagh: Why an Australian legend’s son is playing for Italy against the Wallabies

Udine: On Sunday (AEDT), Louis Lynagh will line up for Italy against the Wallabies in front of two Australian Test five-eighths watching from the grandstand – his father Michael and his brother Tom.

In another world, Louis might have become the third Wallaby in his immediate family. After leaving school at 18, Lynagh was offered the opportunity to move to Australia to play for the Queensland Reds. He gave the move serious thought, but after progressing at Harlequins in London, he elected to stay in England before returning to play for the country of his birth and his mother, Isabella.

“It’s going to be a really weird one [playing against the Wallabies], I can’t lie,” Louis said. “I’ve grown up supporting Italy and Australia in sports, now [I’m] going against Australia. Luckily my brother’s not playing because I don’t know how I would feel then.

“I think after the anthems, once all the emotions are out, it’s just another team, another game and then afterwards, I’m sure there’ll be a lot of talk with the players and the coaches. Dad will be there, but like always, if I’m playing, it’s just another match and, hopefully, I score some tries.”

Louis and his brother Tom are extremely close – a bond forged competing in every possible sport available near their home in Richmond.

From a young age, Tom was a gifted cricketer and soccer player, eventually joining Louis as a schoolboy rugby standout. Louis says third brother Nic, now at Harlequins, is the best of the three.

Louis’ pride in Tom’s achievements is clear, particularly his performances for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions.

Louis was unable to travel to Australia due to club commitments, but followed the series from Italy. Watching his brother get brutally and illegally taken out by Irish hooker Dan Sheehan in the third Test in Sydney was difficult.

“The initial thing was, I just hoped he’s all right,” Louis said. “I know he’s not the type of person to lie down, and I’m quite similar in that respect; like I might get hit in the head, or I take a knock, but we just get up and carry on.

“You know, I’ve never got to play with him or against him; even when we were younger I never got any opportunity [for that]. One day hopefully I will.

“I really want to play with him because he’s not only a really good player, but I want to be able to, not protect him, but like you know if someone gives him a bit of a shot it’d be nice to help him out in some ways. Not that his teammates don’t do that, I’m just saying, it’d be nice.

“Not many people get to say, ‘I played professional rugby with my brother’. It’d be very cool to try and do that one day, whether it’s me going over there [to Australia], or him coming here or meeting in the middle somewhere, I don’t know. It’s something we should try and do a two-for-one deal somewhere.”

Louis has stayed in close contact with Tom from camp and reports he is working hard in the gym after sustaining a hamstring niggle against Argentina in Townsville.

Louis has experienced his own injury troubles. He broke into Eddie Jones’ England squad in 2022, but he was unable to win a cap after experiencing niggles that hampered his electric pace. After recovering, he returned to the best form of his career last year, winning a call-up for Italy and scoring on debut against Scotland. Louis feels that Tom will also be back to his best soon for the Wallabies and Reds.

“He had a hamstring niggle from the Argentina game, and he’s played a lot, and he’s still young at 22,” Louis said. “He’s still not the biggest, and I remember when I was young, when I first got exposed to professional rugby and the level of my body, some parts of my body needed extra work.

“I just think that’s kind of what they’re [Australia] trying to do. They’re trying to say, right you’ve played a lot, and you’ve got beaten up a bit, just give your body time to recover you know; do a full pre-season with the Reds and then make your body feel as good as it can and go into the next season and rip up. I think that’s what he’s aiming to do.

“He’s completely fine, he’s been doing runs and gym work over in London he’s been telling me. I don’t know what he does in the gym, but I’m sure when he goes back to Australia he’ll rip in.”

Lynagh’s integration into the Italian team and his popularity are obvious in the team hotel in Udine. Despite growing up in London, he is fluent in Italian and happily settled in Treviso, living with his 88-year-old Italian grandfather, Giuliano, who still cycles every day into the city. Initially, the adjustment from the buzz of London to the slower pace of northern Italy took time.

“I never really stopped to think about it until now that it’s happening, but it’s really cool that I’m being able to do this,” Louis said. “It’s where my dad played and then met my mum … now I’m coming back and playing here and living with my granddad.

“I was so used to going on holiday here and going back to England, then I ended up just staying here. It was a bit weird [at the start], but I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Louis understood the legacy of his father, Michael, from a young age, whether it was countless well wishers stopping the Wallabies legend at Twickenham for a chat or opponents on the school rugby field reminding the young Lynagh of the sizeable boots he had to fill.

Michael managed the expectations, standing back from the sidelines, often dressed in a cap and sunglasses to blend into the background. It was important for all of his sons to enjoy the game.

Rather than hampering him, Louis found his father’s example inspiring, and they still share thoughts on his games. While Tom arrived at the Reds as the son of a legend, similarly, Louis came to Treviso to play for Benetton where his dad is still remembered fondly after his stint at the club in the 1980s.

“The training ground at Benetton hasn’t changed since he’s [Michael] been there, so I walk in and I see the old team photos and he’s in some of them,” Louis said.

“You’ve got old guys who work there at the club, and I’ve known them since I was a kid because, obviously, they either played with my dad or knew him, so it’s always really fun because there’s that extra bit of love.

“If you go to Treviso, there’s a restaurant and there’s a waiter in there that has been the same waiter there since my dad was playing, and he remembers my dad well. Stuff like that, I love it ...

“When I look back at my career, I’d love to be able to say I have people that remember me and I’ve made my mark in a club or a place in its history.”

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