Queensland Reds and Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh had put aside a tough injury run, confirming his readiness to return to the field in 2026.
Lynagh is coming off 'one of the best years of his life' after earning the starting flyhalf spot for the Wallabies during the British & Irish Lions series.
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The 22-year-old made his Test debut in 2024, but an excellent Super Rugby Pacific season for the Reds, along with a neck injury to Noah Lolesio, saw him thrust further into the spotlight.
Lynagh started all three games; however, he was the subject of an unpunished high shot by hooker Dan Sheenan in the third Test, which left the fly-half with a concussion. The resulting tackle saw the Irish hooker suspended for three weeks.
There were suggestions that this was the cause of his extended time away from the game; however, Lynagh revealed a niggling hamstring strain suffered against Argentina had been the root of his absence.
“The body’s feeling a lot better. I had a lot of time to work over a few things and get the body properly right for Super Rugby this year and that was the whole plan around not going on Spring Tour,” he said to reporters.
“We looked after the head but the hamstring was the main factor. [I] had a little strain from that first Argentina game up in Townsville and just lingered around for the next couple of months and never got better, unfortunately.
"...It was probably one of the best years of my life, with what I was very fortunate to be able to play and feature in some of those Lions games and also feature heavily in the Reds season too. It was a great year for myself but being in and out of the squads and dealing through a few injuries, it was pretty tough to deal with, but I say it all the time, that's Rugby.
Lyngah has a documented history of head knocks, with the incident against the Lions his third of the year. The Reds fly-half was thought to have suffered a fourth against Los Pumas, with further testing clearing the son of Wallabies great Michael.
The young playmaker praised the management of the issue whilst believing the extended time off with the hamstring injury will only help his return to play.
“I was very happy with the way I was managed," he said.
“I think there's a lot of protocols in place to make sure that we're safe to return to play. We went through all those protocols and actually had a few injuries between those head knocks, too.
“It was good to sort of take a bit of time off and really feel comfortable to get back in amongst it, which I am now”
Lynagh's goals remain on reclaiming his Wallabies starting gig, but first faces tough competition at Ballymore.
It comes after the return of Carter Gordon to the 15-a-side game, whom Lynagh praised for his impact on the group as both chase the starting role ahead of next year's World Cup.
“It's great to have Carter back in rugby. It's even better to have him here at the Reds," he believes.
"He's a great player and a great team man and just the insights that he's already given us in the team meetings and on the field has been very valuable to everyone in the club
“It's obviously great to have competition. It's always great pushing each other to try and get that ten jersey. So that's going to drive the whole club forward to be the best you can be.
"...I'm sure it's the same for everyone who plays in Australia to hold down that [flyhalf] jersey. It's the ultimate goal. There were quite a few injuries amongst all those 10s throughout the year and a lot of chopping and changing. You've got to play well at Super Rugby first to even be in with a chance of having that 10 jersey.”
