Outside back Nic Lynagh is eager to follow in his family's footsteps as he embarks on his own journey at the Queensland Reds.
Lynagh joined brother and Wallaby Tom at Ballymore as part of the Academy following a stint in English club Harlequins' pathways.
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Nic is the youngest son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, with his oldest brother Louis emerging as a breakout star for Italy.
The teenager credited the Reds flyhalf for inspiring the move Down Under, signing a one-year deal late last year.
“He's only said good things about the Reds and when he told me about how they play and obviously I watched on telly in the UK…you could clearly see their style of rugby and that really fascinated me and I want to be a part of it," Lynagh told reporters.
“The lads are very welcoming and really had a positive attitude on me. I'd say training is a lot different from that in the UK. I've been telling everyone that it's always raining, it's minus two at the moment in the UK and some of my mates are training in the snow so definitely a lot more lush here.”
The fullback/winger plied his trade at Hampton School in London, only for injury to derail his final years of school Rugby.
He credits the wealth of experience around him for getting through two years of setbacks.
"I got a left knee injury and did my meniscus, so I had to get surgery on that and then just coming back from that, played a few games, and then my right hamstring just popped, grade four, completely off the bone," he explained “Until about maybe a few months ago, I was recovering from that so it's been a tough two years on the sidelines, but I managed to get some game time in between and really try to put my best foot forward when I came back from injury.
“...My brothers were very, very impactful in that scenario and they gave me a lot of wise words and gave me a lot of stories about themselves and other people about how you can really make this scenario a positive, not just focus on the negatives of it.
“My dad, while I was living with him, was always on my shoulder, and he always took me to training or to rehab, so he was always there for me, and I can't thank him enough for that."
Lynagh is comfortable with the pressure that comes with the surname, which only grows as his brothers thrive at Test level.
“I mean, as the youngest brother, I feel like I copped it the most from my dad, but also Louis doing well when he was just a teenager in 2019/20. I used to get it on the sidelines of my games, like ‘Oh, there's a Lynagh, he's got to do something,’” he explained.
"That was one story in England where I've been sworn at just for being a Lynagh so there's positives and negatives, but I almost treat the pressure as a privilege and don't shy away from it, just play to myself.”
As for his own international ambitions, with one brother in gold and the other in blue?
“I think it's a bit premature for me to be thinking about that and I'm just really focused on putting my best foot forward for the Reds,” he added with a thick English accent. “Coming back from injury, just trying to get some consistency in training and see where that takes me.”
Whatever happens, he has the full backing of his older brother.
“Nic's had a few challenges along the way as has most rugby players, but he's done well at school and for Harlequins Academy as well," Tom said.
“From being over here, I was watching him play and I see a lot of potential in him.
“He's taken the chance like I did to come over here and mine worked out, so I don't see why his won't. I'm very confident in him and I'm sure he'll do great things”.
