How a Wallabies great forged a global union as Lynagh battle looms
The Australian five-eighth's Super Rugby Pacific outfit, the Queensland Reds, have announced a groundbreaking partnership with Italian side Benetton – the club which the 22-year-old's older sibling, Louis Lynagh, currently plays for.
Four Reds – Josh Flook, Richie Asiata, John Bryant and Louis Werchon – will leave in July for a three-month secondment, in which they will feature in Europe's United Rugby Championship.
Queensland will travel to Treviso for the first time in November 2026 when they will face-off with Benetton, opening the door for the Lynagh boys to square off, after their father – Wallabies great Michael Lynagh – won trophies at each club.
'The connection was made through Michael Lynagh,' Reds general manager of high performance Sam Cordingley said.
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'Right from the start, we have felt a genuine will to create opportunities that can benefit two proud clubs and two strong brands.'
Cordingley, and Benetton general manager of rugby Antonio Pavanello, launched discussions of the partnership in January as the Australian side took part in their European tour, in which they clashed with Bristol and Ulster.
It followed contests with Wales, Tonga and Japanese franchise Saitama Wild Knights in 2024, while they also battled the Lions this month and hope to include another fixture on their Italy tour.
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The Advertiser
27 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Harrington leads Senior British Open as Aussies hover
Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift. Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Finals beckon, but Suns keep their Witts about them
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"I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Harrington leads Senior British Open as Aussies hover
Padraig Harrington, aiming for his second senior major of the year, birdied the final hole for another five-under 65 and a two-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final round of the Senior British Open. The Australian challenge, which shaped up promisingly on Friday, remains strong with six representatives in the leading 13, fronted by Greg Chalmers, who shot a 66 to be five shots off the lead. But the most eye-catching Aussie on Saturday was Scott Hend, who went round in 64 to move to within six shots of the pacesetter. Harrington was among four players who had at least a share of the lead at some point during the round on the Old Course at Sunningdale. He seized the lead with birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and a closing birdie added to his slight lead. Harrington, who was at 13-under 197, has been in the United Kingdom the last three weeks for links golf, starting with the Scottish Open. He won the US Senior Open in Colorado a month ago. Leonard, the only PGA Tour Champions player to make the cut last week in the British Open at Royal Portrush, also had a second straight 65. Thomas Bjorn had a 67 and was three shots behind. Harrington and Leonard are past British Open champions - Leonard at Royal Troon in 1997, Harrington winning the first of two claret jugs a decade later at Carnoustie (2007) and Royal Birkdale (2008). Either one can become the fifth player to win the British Open and Senior British Open, a feat last accomplished by Darren Clarke in 2022. Steven Alker, New Zealand's two-time Charles Schwab Cup winner who opened with a 73, tried to get back in the game. He shot 66 and was among four players at eight-under 202, five shots behind. Australia's Cameron Percy shares 10th place, seven shots behind, with compatriots Mark Hensby, Steve Allan and Michael Wright a further shot back. Richard Green is 10 shots adrift.
