'Shaken and devastated' Tom Lynagh impresses in No 10 jersey for Reds

Tom Lynagh was “shaken and devastated” by the grim tragedy at his former school in Surrey just days before his first run-on role for the Queensland Reds.

Young Lynagh may be building his rugby life in Australia but his connection to Epsom College and the school community he grew up with is close to his heart.

Lynagh woke in Brisbane a week ago to a series of messages in his old school chat group which found no sense in the murder of Epsom College Head Emma Pattison and daughter Lettie by alleged gunman and husband George.

“I was shocked just to think of the people involved and these things happening at a place where I’d been at boarding school for five years,” Lynagh said.

“I was pretty shaken and devastated. We’d walk past the Head’s house all the time because it is right by the First XV field where we spent so much time.”

Lynagh finished his schooling at Epsom College in 2021 before Pattison took on her role but the tragic event has reverberated through the close-knit school community he knows.

“I reached out to a few old mates and schoolteachers to offer support and prayers. Very sad,” Lynagh said.

“Fortunately, I could put all that in a different compartment because there was a gap of a few days before the game to prepare properly.”

Lynagh, 19, made a positive impression in his first run-on role for the Reds to show he will be a valid option at No 10 in Super Rugby Pacific this season should injury strike top-choice James O’Connor or Lawson Creighton.

He earned more than 50 minutes at No 10 in the high-quality pre-season trial last Saturday night which the NSW Waratahs took 33-32 at the death.

His passing, communication, organisation of the backs, general kicking and goalkicking were all ticks after he caught the kick-off and confidently took the ball into contact.

“I’ll take a lot from that game and the last few weeks of training in terms of confidence in my body,” the 83kg Lynagh said of the physical contest.

“At schoolboy level, you probably try to do a lot. At pro level, you trust in the guys around you. I had very experienced players inside and out so I was very aware of not trying to do everything myself.

“Starting really helped me. It was a big step forward playing in that first 20 minutes (of more intense rugby) than the final 20 when everyone is tired.

“I’d like to think I’m now physically ready for Super Rugby but it is still all about working hard at training and earning the chance should it come.”

The trial may have been played in a NSW country rugby hub, more than 500km from Sydney, but the Lynagh name travels.

Several older rugby fans congratulated the youngster after the game and mentioned they’d watched his father Michael Lynagh in his pomp in the 1990s when he was winning Tests for the Wallabies.

He received a supportive message on his phone from dad before kick-off.

“It was nice to see the message and replay the words over in my head during warm-ups,” Lynagh junior said.

“The advice was pretty good too, ‘Do the simple things right and listen to the experience around you. Back the calls you make and positive body language’.”

O’Connor would have played the trial if it had been the season-proper but has elected to pace his return from ankle surgery for Round One against the Hurricanes in Townsville on February 25.

The Reds may have lost the trial but the general vibe was very positive after the productive trial.

Inside centre Isaac Henry had an excellent game of punchy ball-running, a lovely offload as he fell to ignite a 60-metre team try and several booming kicks. No 8 Harry Wilson was all bustle and smart presence around the ball as he looks to regain favour at Wallabies level. Flanker Liam Wright seized several turnovers at the tackle.

Lynagh’s halfback Tate McDermott, a current Wallaby, saw the trial in the same light. “There were heaps of positives. Tommy was loud, he steered and controlled in attack really well and did what he was asked to do in spades,” McDermott said.

The Waratahs will also be delighted that new Wallaby backrower Langi Gleeson made the night’s most bone-crunching tackle to show the physical presence he will add to the pack this season.

Meanwhile, a neat Tane Edmed pass at the line to send a support runner away was the sort of flyhalf skill that spectator Eddie Jones will have noted in his notes as Wallabies coach.