Michael Lynagh

Michael Lynagh

Date of birth	October 25, 1963 (1963-10-25) (age 48)
Place of birth	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
School	St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	fly-half
Professional / senior clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1996–1998	Saracens	49	(?)
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1982–1995	Queensland	?	(?)
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1984–1995	Australia	72	(911)

Michael Lynagh (born 25 October 1963) is a former Australian rugby union footballer who played as a Fly-half.

Lynagh represented Australia from 1984 to 1995, playing at both inside centre and fly half. Lynagh was capped 72 times for Australia, and was captain from 1993 to 1995. He was the world points scoring record holder when he retired, with 911 points. Lynagh was a member of the 1984 Grand Slam winning team and was vice-captain when Australia won the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Until he handed the kicking duties over to Marty Roebuck, he scored in every test he played in, including a try against Wales in 1984 when he was temporarily relieved of kicking responsibilities.

He retired from International Rugby after Australia's loss to England in the Quarter Final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Lynagh attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in Brisbane and played fly-half in the school's First XV from Year 10 to Year 12 (1979–1981). Terrace won the GPS premiership 5 years straight from 1977 to 1981 with Lynagh playing the in the final 3 years and was captain in his last year. After school he played first grade for University and represented Queensland from 1982–1995. Lynagh was a member of Queensland's Super 6 and Super 10 winning sides.

Lynagh made his debut for Australia against Fiji on 9 June 1984 in Suva at the age of 20. Early in his career he played at inside centre as Mark Ella was the current fly-half. When Ella retired after the 1984 Grand Slam, Lynagh took over as the Australian fly-half.

Lynagh joined Saracens of England at the advent of professionalism in 1996 after retiring from a glittering 12-year international career with Australia as the world record points scorer with 911 and a World Cup winner (1991).

Lynagh's arrival at the club was the first major signing after Nigel Wray took control of the club and he acted as a beacon to attract other players and fans alike. Lynagh helped Saracens to have their most successful season to date.

In the 1997/98 season Saracens battled it out with Newcastle Falcons for almost the whole season for top spot in the league and when the two sides met in front of a crowd of nearly 20,000 Lynagh slotted a match winning drop goal in the dying minutes to send Vicarage Road into raptures. A month later he was on hand to steer Saracens to their famous Tetley’s Bitter Cup 48–18 victory over Wasps at Twickenham, bringing the curtain down on a season to remember.

He is now a director of Adstream, as well as working as a TV analyst for Sky Sports UK.

References

External links

• Saracens profile
• Sporting Heroes profile
• Talk Rugby Union profile

Preceded by Nick Farr-Jones

Australian national rugby union captain 1993–1995

Succeeded by Phil Kearns

Persondata
Name	Lynagh, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	25 October 1963
Place of birth	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Date of death
Place of death