Storming into the the England U16s, whilst playing for Harlequins U18s and the Hampton School First XV, cannot be easy for anyone. However, when I sat down with Louis Lynagh, it was clear that through his passion and determination for the game, he did not see this as a struggle.
Paul Wilkinson: Hi Louis. So, when did you first start playing rugby?
Louis Lynagh: I started playing rugby when I was around 4 years old at Richmond rugby club.
PW: And did you take the sport up because of how successful your father was in the game?
LL: I guess that rugby has always been my go to sport and this is slightly because of my dad, but he believed that you could play any sport as long as you tried your best at it, so he didn’t really mind if I played other sports. But rugby was the path I took.
PW: Has he had a big influence on your career so far?
LL: Yes, he’s played a massive part in improving the little areas of my game and teaching me how important it is to have good sportsmanship before anything else.
PW: Who is your favourite rugby player ever and who do you look towards to try and improve your game?
LL: My favourite player ever is Jonah Lomu for how he changed the game. I also like Dan Carter because of how he could find a gap anywhere and more recently, Israel Folau due to how he can light up a game and his aerial dominance is unparalleled. To improve my game I would look towards Stuart Hogg for his skill, and Damian McKenzie just for his sheer pace. For a more all round improvement I’d look at Owen Farrell. He has an all round game and his physicality and kicking is something I’m aiming for in the future.
PW: Impressively, you have already starred for England U16s in their victory over Wales U16s, but is this your biggest achievement to date?
LL: Yes I think it probably is, but I’m also playing for Harlequins U18 and have been selected for two England U17 & U18 camps so far with aspirations of making further England appearances this year.
PW: Do you ever struggle to balance your rugby commitments with your work at school?
LL: At points I did but now that I’m in the 6th form, even though the work is in greater loads, the teachers are working hard with me to make sure I can cater for both my work and rugby commitments at equal levels.
PW: How far do you think you can go in the sport and what would be your ultimate dream?
LL: I don’t feel like saying how far I think I can go because I believe that if I continue working hard and improving, good things will follow. However, my dream right now is to become a professional and then ultimately to play international rugby for my chosen country.
PW: What advice would you give to young sportsmen looking to follow in you footsteps?
LL: The key thing is take on as much advice as you can and to focus on your own game. Do not worry if someone is quicker than you or can lift more than you in the gym, just focus on what you can do to make your game better. Also, listen to any constructive criticism from coaches and if you have a bad game, learn from it and come back next week knowing that you are not going to make the same mistake again.
PW: You have already worn the White Rose of England, but are your sights set on pulling the Wallabies jersey over your head?
LL: Right now what I’ve achieved is great in my eyes, regardless of what country it was for. If I do get to play for any country internationally in the future it would be a huge honour. Of course I’m Australian and would love to play for them but realistically I live in England and if I got the opportunity to play for England I would take it.
So, there you have it, an interview with potentially Hampton’s first international rugby player. I am sure that everyone will agree with me when I say that we will look forward to seeing how his career progresses.
