The perpetual trophy to be struck for the Queensland Reds vs Benetton Rugby match in Treviso in November will honour Wallabies great Michael Lynagh.
The trophy will be known as the Lynagh Cup when the Reds travel to Italy to play their partner club for the first time on November 27 at Stadio Monigo.
Lynagh has gratefully accepted the unique acknowledgement for his decorated career at both clubs.
An initial introduction from Lynagh was an important trigger before the partnership was fleshed out by representatives of the two clubs. As a classy flyhalf, he won championships with both the Reds in Super 10 (1994) and Benetton Treviso (1991-92).
“These are two important organisations in my life coming together in a wonderful union,” Lynagh said.
“To have a game, and a trophy, in November is a great opportunity for the clubs. It will be interesting to see how it pans out for a couple of Lynagh boys, who are now at each club.”
Lynagh’s son Tom, the Wallabies flyhallf against the British & Irish Lions in 2025, is at the Reds in Australia where youngest son Nic has been with the Reds Academy this season. Eldest son Louis earns his Test spurs for Italy playing for Benetton Rugby.
The partnership was ignited last year with backrower John Bryant, halfback Louis Werchon and hooker Richie Asiata all playing for Benetton Rugby in the 2025-26 United Rugby Championship during secondments from the Reds.
"After the 1991 Rugby World Cup, I took six months leave from my job and went off to play with Benetton. It certainly changed the direction of my life in a big way because I ended up marrying a girl (Isabella) from Treviso,” Lynagh said.
“In this professional age of play, go home, train, train, on to the next game, it’s great that Sam Cordingley and Antonio Pavanello saw the chance to provide players with something more which not a lot of other clubs are doing.
“From a rugby point of view, players of both sides will learn different ways of playing the game. The Reds will experience a new culture and have their eyes opened a lot to develop personally."
Cordingley, the Queensland Reds General Manager, High Performance, said it was exciting to take this next step with a partner club “with the history and ambition” of Benetton Rugby.
“It’s terrific to be able to announce that the match in Treviso will be played for the Lynagh Cup,” Cordingley said.
“It will be a nod to ‘Noddy’ and his time as an important part of the history of both clubs. It’s being carried into the next generation as well.
“The strength of rugby is the international flavour of it and we are really trying to lean into that as the Queensland Rugby Union.
“A strong point of the partnership is affording players and staff the chance to experience something different, where they’ll learn, not just in rugby but with a general life perspective.”
Pavanello, General Manager of Benetton Rugby, said the link with the Reds was building a partnership on many levels.
“It is the shared vision to create an international rugby ecosystem capable of generating value, growth and new opportunities for players, staff and fans alike,” Pavanello said.
“We want to create something lasting…and this is just the beginning.”
China Airlines, a leading Taiwan-based carrier, is the presenting partner for the China Airlines Queensland Reds International Tour with four games across Japan and Italy.
The Reds will face the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan (November 7 and 14) before flying to Italy for matches against an Italy XV (November 20) and Benetton Rugby (November 27). Both matches in Italy will be played at Stadio Monigo.
