Tom Lynagh opens up on ‘ultimate goal’ after Wallabies rise in 2025

Queensland Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh is chasing the “ultimate goal” with the Wallabies in 2026, looking to lock down the starting role after an injury-ravaged campaign that was cut short during The Rugby Championship.

Lynagh represented the Australia XV against an England A outfit that included Henry Pollock in 2024 before returning to clubland with the Reds. The fly-half made 11 starts for Queensland during last year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign, leading to Wallabies honours.

Noah Lolesio wore the No. 10 jersey against the Flying Fijians in Newcastle, with Ben Donaldson coming off the bench in the nail-biting win. With Lolesio suffering an injury in Australia’s only match before the Lions Series, coach Joe Schmidt had to make a change for the first Lions Test.

Rob Valetini and Will Skelton were both ruled out as forward pack enforcers, but the biggest story of the week was the selection of Lynagh at 10. Lynagh was yet to start a match for the Wallabies, but was handed the keys to the Ferrari for the Brisbane Test.

Lynagh started all three matches against the tourists before suiting up against Argentina in TRC, sustaining a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old missed the rest of the 2025 season but is raring to go ahead of another campaign with the Reds.

“That’s the long-term goal and I’m sure that’s the same for everyone that plays for Australia, to hold down that jersey. It’s the ultimate goal,” Lynagh told reporters.

“There were quite a few injuries amongst all us 10s throughout the year and a lot of chopping and changing.

“You’ve gotta play well at Super Rugby first to even be in with a chance.”

Queensland have added some big-name recruits to their squad for 2026, with code-hopper Carter Gordon and Flying Fijian Ben Volavola bolstering the Reds’ ranks. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is another contender to start at fly-half for the Brisbane-based outfit.

The Reds have made the playoffs every season since Super Rugby Pacific resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’ve bowed out in the quarters each time. Eventual champions the Crusaders knocked the Reds out of the title race with a 32-12 win last June.

“We keep on building. Obviously we’re not happy with where we finished last year, you obviously want to win in the end,” Lynagh said.

“I said earlier in the first block, we’ve installed quite a few new things into our attack and defence plan so hopefully that can give us more of an edge over our opponents and a different way of thinking about attacking and defending.”

Lynagh will be joined by younger brother Nic in Queensland in 2026, with the teenager committing to a one-year deal with the Reds Academy. Nic is the youngest son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, who helped the national team win the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Nic went to Hampton School in London, spending a few months with the senior academy at Harlequins in 2025. Sam Cordingley, who is the Reds General Manager of High Performance, would later say the club had “been tracking Nick’s development… for some time.”

“Nic’s had a few challenges along the way, as have most rugby players, but he’s done well at school and for Harlequins Academy,” he explained.

“From being over here, I was watching him play. I see a lot of potential in him.

“He’s taking the chance like I did to come over here and mine worked out so I don’t see why he won’t. I’m very confident in him and I’m sure he’ll do great things.”