Cheers of excitement from South West London could possibly be heard in Brisbane, Australia over the weekend, specifically at Suncorp Stadium where former Epsom pupil, Tom Lynagh, made his international debut for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions.
Following in his father’s footsteps in the No.10 jersey, and making his historic first test appearance, Lynagh’s debut filled sports pages in both the UK and Australia. The coverage chronicled Tom’s decision to move from London to Australia to join the Queensland Reds, and the Lynagh rugby lineage.
Director of Rugby and former Ireland international, Paul Burke, was able to provide context to the BBC, the Telegraph (paywall), and the Sydney Morning Herald, discussing Tom’s time at Epsom: “What I liked about Tom was that despite his diminishing figure, he was tenacious, he had the heart of a lion and he would not shirk a tackle, he would stand in the way of bigger opponents and had a load of courage”.
Burke also spoke warmly about Lynagh’s talent along with his strong work ethic and his determination, not least in the gym as Tom developed his strength and conditioning.
The game may not ultimately have gone in the Wallabies’ favour, but Lynagh’s display marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his career and one which the Epsom community will follow with great pride.