From London to Brisbane: Tom Lynagh's Journey to the Reds

Last week, as well as chatting with Reds lock Seru Uru, I also was lucky to catch up with Reds new recruit Tom Lynagh. His family name is familiar to many rugby fans, as his father is one of the great Wallabies. However, Tom is focused on forging his own path. He was raised in London, but at the end of 2021 he travelled “home” to Queensland, Australia!

I really enjoyed catching up with him. With players like Tom around, the Reds will be in good stead for years to come!

Tom seemed very much at home at Ballymore

Hey Tom, Thanks for taking the time to catch up today!

No worries. Thanks for having me!

What was the number one thing that inspired you to move from England to Australia?

I think watching the team develop over the last couple of years with Thorny and Josh and seeing the success they had, I just wanted to be a part of it.

How have you found the Queensland weather so far?

I’ve loved the weather so far. Fortunately for me it hasn’t been too hot over there the last couple of months, it’s been a bit English, I’d say. Lots of rain and not so much sunshine.

But I’ve loved the weather. I used to go across to Italy quite a lot in the summer and the heat and humidity is very similar to what it’s like over here in the summer.

Have any of the boys had anything to say about your English accent?

Ah - I’m trying to get rid of it. Some of the boys have told me to keep it so they can keep on teasing me about it.

But I’m trying to get rid of the accent mate (laughs). I want to be Australian.

What have been some highlights since you’ve been based here at Ballymore?

There have been quite a few. The one that sticks out to me is the trial match against the Western Force. It was my first ever opportunity to play rugby in Australia and I was fortunate enough to play the second half against the guys. Playing with some Wallabies on my team and playing against a few Wallabies too was a pretty cool experience.

Other highlights include just being around all the boys at Ballymore all day. I’m pretty fortunate to do what I love for a living and fortunate enough to be around some great guys. 

Are there any positions you like playing, other than fly-half?

Um I haven’t played too many positions other than fly-half, really. I played scrum-half once and I hated that, because there was too much running. And then I also played full-back once or twice. But I prefer playing fly-half. You get to touch the ball a lot more and control the game from where your playing on the pitch.

How old were you when you first started playing rugby?

I was 5 years old when I first started playing rugby. I started playing for a club called Richmond Rugby Club, over in England - I believe it’s the second oldest rugby club in the world, dating back to 1861. I started playing there when I was a kid, I played there until I was 13, but from 6 onwards I’ve been playing at school too, so I played with school on Saturdays and club on Sundays.

We all know your dad was a great rugby player. Although I’m sure you’re intent on carving your own path. That said, what’s something your dad has said to you lately that’s helped you on your rugby journey?

Yeah. I’m fortunate to have a dad, well, who he is. He’s obviously had his own career and success’s. He’s always been very much like, you know, “don’t worry about me, create your own path, do your own thing, just don’t listen to what anyones got to say…”

One piece of advice he’s given me recently has been “keep your head down, just keep ticking along, get your minutes, keep things simple, don’t try and overcomplicate stuff and do everything yourself, just trust the guys around you, because they’re capable of doing good stuff.”

Is it true that you also played soccer and cricket at high school? Also, what’s your second favourite sport?

Yeah I grew up playing soccer and cricket in England. Soccers obviously huge sport over in England and every kid grows up wanting to be a soccer player. But yeah, I stopped playing soccer when I was 16 and I kept on playing cricket until I finished school at 18. So cricket would be my second favourite sport. I played it with a lot of my good mates and we had quite a good team, so that made it even more enjoyable.

What’s your favourite thing to do that has nothing to do with rugby?

Um, I quite enjoy playing a bit of golf, it’s also something I grew up playing with my dad, he got me into it when I was about 12, I think. I enjoy playing golf.

You walk around the course and you’ve got a free mind when your playing. It takes a lot of stresses off life. You can play it with some of your mates, whether it’s casual or competitive. It’s a good thing to do in your free time.

The Reds play against the Crusaders for their final game of the regular season, tomorrow (Friday May 27th) at 5:35pm!!!

A Conversation with Reds Lock Seru Uru

Earlier today, I had an awesome conversation with one of my favourite players, Seru Uru. Since moving from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019, he hit his stride playing for Easts and Brisbane City in the NRC, before earning his Reds contract ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season.

With a work ethic like his, I have a feeling that Seru is only going to get better in the coming years. I'm glad he brought his talents to the Reds and that he calls Brisbane home!!!

Hey Seru, thank you for taking the time to come and chat today. How much are you looking forward to the Reds first game against the Moana Pasifika?

Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it! It will be a tough I would say and a good game aswell.. It’ll be our last game here in Brisbane, I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve been watching them play over the last few weeks and they have been playing really good. They’re big boys, some big hits and some good ball carriers, so I’m really looking forward to it. 

What are some key things the Reds are working on at the moment?

The key things that the Reds are working on is our decision making around the park, our inside defence, always protecting the inside shoulder. Attack wise, our set plays around the park and our north coast has been better over the last few weeks that we have been playing, we’ve been improving because there have been a few games that when we come to the north coast we give away the ball easily, so we’ve been working hard on that. On the past few games you would have seen we’ve come up with a few tries. the boys are controlling and getting away with points which is good. A few other things would be our kick off chase, adding pressure on the kick off. That’s what the boys have been working at really hard.

What do you love the most about playing for the Reds?

One thing I love the most about the Reds is the boys! They’re just a good bunch of blokes, everyone gets along with each other easily. On and off the field, everyone is tight. You can see on the field where everyone is working for each other, if there is a problem, everyone will come and pick you up and boost you up, that’s one thing I really love at the Reds. It’s just the boys.

What’s been your rugby journey so far, and how did you end up playing in Queensland?

Yeah my rugby journey so far… I finished school back in 2016 in Fiji. I played in 20s for Fiji for 3 years, I was still in school in 2015 and I joined the Fiji 20s in 2016 and then 2017 I moved to Australia Melbourne. I came and joined a team called a team called Island Breeze”, it’s at “Youth with a Mission”. That brought me over here to Australia. That’s when I started with Box Hill, down in Melbourne and started my career there. I did a few training sessions with the Melbourne Rebels just to get a feel for what it is like to play at the top level, it was really good, it gave me a boost. I kept it in my mind and thought yes I wanted play super rugby. I stayed in Melbourne 2017, I was apart of the NRC Melbourne Rebels squad and then in 2018 I moved clubs, I moved to Power House, but I didn’t get picked for the NRC squad.

Then there was an agent who gave me a call here and told me to start again here. I joined Easts straight away, my first season there was at 2019 and from there everything just happened. I had a good season with Easts and got picked for the NRC and after 3 games I got signed to the Reds

I was so pumped and so emotional at the same time, I couldn’t believe it - that things happened like that in one year. Moving from Melbourne to here I thought it would take a bit longer, but everything just happened. I was so happy about it. And now, everything is just falling into place, I’m getting more game time, I’m getting more mature in the game, I’m learning heaps of things every day

Especially playing alongside all of the boys here that I used to watch on the TV at home and playing the other teams around Australia and in New Zealand, it’s a good experience.

What do you miss most about being away from Fiji?

The thing I miss the most is family. I really miss my family. I moved here by myself, left everyone there. It’s pretty hard because last time I went home was 2019, because of covid. But hopefully I’ll go back this year or next year, we’ll see how it goes. And the other thing is food (laughs). I miss the food back home. 

I’m really glad you’ve made it to Queensland and that you’re in our team.

I’m really happy I joined the Queensland Reds. There’s no other club like this one. I really enjoy it here and being here in Brisbane. The weather just reminds me of being back home. When I go around, I hardly know everyone, but they’ll come up to you like “hey Seru”. (Laughs.)

What would be a few tips that you would give to young, up and coming back row flankers?

Feedback I would say to the kids growing up is always listen to your Mum and Dad, keep working hard and never give up. There’s heaps of opportunities around here. If you don’t get a crack on the first one, don’t give up. Because for me to get here, I’ve been through a lot (laughs). I’ve struggled to get here. But never give up, always keep pushing yourself. Don’t fall into the wrong crowd. It’s good to have friends, but just choose the good friends you have. But yeah, always keep pushing yourself and listen to your parents.

If you weren’t playing rugby, what would you be doing?

When I was in school I was doing automotive engineering and then after school, I just focused on rugby. But if it wasn’t rugby, I would have been doing that. Or, before I moved here to Australia, I was recruited to be a prison officer. I went to an interview, and I got the job. Then I had to choose that job, or coming to Australia, and I chose to come here.

What are your current goals, inside and outside of rugby?

My current goal in rugby is to don the Wallabies jersey, that’s a goal and a dream. Outside of rugby, I just want to do some more studies for life after rugby. I want to settle here in Brisbane after rugby.

Last question - favourite post-game snack?

(Laughs.) Favourite post-game snack… the snakes. The lollies-snakes. Heaps of sugar, it gives you that boost (laughs).

Thats Seru for taking time out to chat!

Thank you very much for having me!

The Reds play the Moana Pacifika, home at Suncorp Stadium, this Friday!!!!!!! It's the final home game of the season, so make sure you come along!!!!! I can't wait....