Louis Lynagh Explained

Louis Lynagh
Birth Name:Louis Lynagh
Birth Date:3 December 2000
Birth Place:Treviso, Italy
Height:1.870NaN0
Weight:95kg (209lb)
Ru Position:Wing
Ru Nationalteam:England U16
England U18
England U19
Italy
Ru Nationalyears:2017
2018
2019
2024–
Ru Nationalcaps:
3
1
4
Ru Nationalpoints:
(0)
(0)
(10)
Ru Ntupdate:21 July 2024
Years1:2019–2024
Clubs1:Harlequins
Apps1:67
Points1:155
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:Benetton
Apps2:0
Points2:0
Ru Clubupdate:6 July 2024
Ru Currentclub:Benetton
Relatives:Michael Lynagh (father)
Tom Lynagh (brother)
School:Hampton School

Louis Lynagh (born 3 December 2000) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Benetton Rugby.[1] Born in Italy, he qualified for England on residency grounds and represented them at age grade levels, before choosing to represent the country of his birth at senior level, making his debut for Italy on 9 March 2024.[2]

Early life

Lynagh was born in Treviso, Italy to an Italian mother and former Australian rugby player Michael Lynagh.[3] At the age of four he moved with his family to England where he began playing mini rugby at Richmond and attended Hampton School.[3] [2]

Club career

Harlequins

Lynagh joined the academy of Harlequins at the age of thirteen.[4] In October 2020 he made his Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers and later that season scored a try during Harlequins 43–36 defeat of Bristol Bears in the semi-final, a game in which Quins recovered from 28 points down to win.[4] [5] The following weekend on 26 June 2021 Lynagh scored two late tries as Quins defeated defending champions Exeter Chiefs 40-38 in the final at Twickenham to win their first Premiership title for nine years.[4] [6]

In January 2024, although not originally named in the match day squad, Lynagh started on the bench for Harlequins in their Champions Cup pool stage fixture against Ulster because Cameron Anderson was injured. An HIA replacement for Oscar Beard meant he came off the bench early in the game. Lynagh went on to win man of the match after scoring two tries from Ulster mistakes as they won 47-19.[7] During the same European campaign, he was part of the side that defeated Glasgow Warriors 28-24 at home in the Round of 16, the first time the club had ever won a knockout game in the competition.[8] He started in their semi-final elimination against Toulouse.[9]

Benetton

Lynagh signed with Italian United Rugby Championship club Benetton a two-year contract from the 2024–25 season, with option until 2027.[10]

International career

Lynagh represented the England under-16 team and in the summer of 2018 was a member of the England U18 side that toured South Africa.[2] [11] In September 2021 Lynagh received his first call-up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for a training camp.[12]

Despite previously being called into an England training camp, Lynagh was not capped. In February 2024, he received a call up to the Italy squad by head coach Gonzalo Quesada for the 2024 Six Nations following the announcement of his move to Benetton at the end of the season.[13] On 9 March 2024, he was named on the wing in the starting side, scoring a try on his debut against Scotland in a game that Italy won 31-29.[14] [15] The following match Lynagh went two wins from two as Italy beat Wales 24-21 at the Millennium Stadium. It was the first time since 2013 that Italy had achieved at least two wins from a Six Nations tournament.[16]

Career statistics

List of international tries

[17] |-|style="text-align:center;"|1|9 March 2024|Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy||style="text-align:center;"|21–22||2024 Six Nations Championship|style="text-align:center;"|[15] |-|style="text-align:center;"|2|5 July 2024|Apia Park, Apia, Samoa||style="text-align:center;"|13–7||2024 mid-year rugby union tests|style="text-align:center;"|[18] |}

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harlequins - Team Info . Global Sports Archive . 29 June 2021 . https://archive.today/20210629070947/https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/rugby/harlequins/26453/#35% . 29 June 2021.
  2. News: Hotshot: Harlequins full-back Louis Lynagh. Sarah. Mockford. Rugby World. 5 January 2021. 29 June 2022.
  3. News: Louis Lynagh, son of Aussie legend Michael, named in England squad after international tug of war. Hugh. Godwin. The I. 21 September 2021. 20 January 2022.
  4. News: Louis Lynagh: Harlequins Premiership final hero has 'massive future'. Brent. Pilnick. BBC Sport. 26 June 2021. 29 June 2022.
  5. News: Premiership semi-final: Bristol Bears 36-43 Harlequins (AET) - Quins reach Twickenham after stunning fightback. Chris. Harby. BBC Sport. 19 June 2021. 1 July 2021.
  6. News: Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 38-40 Harlequins - Louis Lynagh's late double clinches title. Brent. Pilnick. BBC Sport. 26 June 2021. 1 July 2021.
  7. News: Investec Champions Cup: Harlequins 47-19 Ulster - Ulster knocked out. Matt. Gault. BBC Sport. 20 January 2024. 8 March 2024.
  8. News: Harlequins edge Glasgow in thriller to reach Champions Cup quarter-finals. George. O'Neill. BBC Sport. 5 April 2024. 8 April 2024.
  9. News: Toulouse battle past Quins to reach Champions Cup final. Mantej. Mann. BBC Sport. 5 May 2024. 6 July 2024.
  10. News: LOUIS LYNAGH È IL PRIMO ACQUISTO DEI LEONI PER LA STAGIONE 2024/2025. 12 February 2024. 12 February 2024.
  11. News: England defeated by France in U18 International series opener. Andrew. Lawton. Premiership Rugby. 11 August 2018. 29 June 2022.
  12. News: Louis Lynagh called up by England - Billy & Mako Vunipola plus George Ford left out. Chris. Jones. BBC Sport. 21 September 2021. 21 September 2021.
  13. Web site: Louis Lynagh: Italy call up Harlequins wing to Six Nations training squad . BBC Sport . BBC . 16 February 2024.
  14. Web site: Raisey . Josh . Louis Lynagh set for debut as Italy make three changes for Scotland . RugbyPass . 8 March 2024.
  15. News: Italy 31-29 Scotland: Six Nations 2024 – as it happened. Lee. Calvert. The Guardian. 9 March 2024. 9 March 2024.
  16. Web site: Griffiths. Gareth. Six Nations 2024: Wales 21-24 Italy - visitors consign Wales to first Wooden Spoon in 21 years. BBC Sport. 17 March 2024.
  17. Web site: Louis Lynagh. ESPN. 6 July 2024.
  18. News: Samoa 33-25 Italy. Sky Sports. 5 July 2024. 6 July 2024.