louis lynagh says he once pictured himself in an England shirt but now wears Italy’s colours and is intent on beating England when the sides meet in the Six Nations; he says he was close to selection under Eddie Jones and felt overlooked when Steve Borthwick made no contact; he has since moved to Italy, joined Benetton and debuted for Italy, relishing the new path ahead.
Louis Lynagh on the England snub and new allegiance
The core of the story is stark and simple: louis lynagh grew up in Kew, west London, came through Harlequins and England age groups, and was on the cusp of senior England selection under Eddie Jones. He says that at one pivotal Six Nations window he was “kind of in and out” of the squad and was told by Jones that the coaches had chosen another direction. When the coaching change came, Steve Borthwick made no contact with him, and that silence coincided with a period when he fell out of favour at Harlequins.
From Harlequins hopeful to Italy international
Faced with that crossroads, louis lynagh opted for a fresh career in Italy, joining Benetton and making his Italy debut two years ago. He has been part of Italian victories over Scotland and Wales and now lives in Treviso with his elderly maternal grandfather. He says playing for England was what he once expected for himself, but having the option of three nations — England, Australia and Italy — he embraced the route that materialised and says he could not be happier representing the country of his birth.
Immediate reactions: the player speaks
“I got on with Eddie really well, and owe him quite a bit for, first of all, bringing me into that environment, ” said louis lynagh, Italy international, recalling the encouragement he received when he was close to selection. He added, “You were really close this week, but we decided to go another way, ” quoting the conversation that left him on the cusp. On facing England, louis lynagh said bluntly: “We’re not just here to have a good time. We’re pretty serious [about winning]. “
Quick context
louis lynagh is the son of former Australian rugby star Michael Lynagh and carried the Harlequins pathway and England age-group experience into senior rugby. The Six Nations competition is running from February 5 to March 14, and Italy are preparing for the fixture with England amid a push for a first-ever win over that side.
What’s next
All eyes now turn to the immediate match-up with England, where louis lynagh will take the field for Italy intent on overturning what he describes as a missed opportunity to represent England. The expectation from the player is clear: he will use the next international fixtures to cement his place in the Italy side and test the decision-making of those who overlooked him, while Italy aim to build on recent wins and chase a landmark result against England. Updated March 7, 2026, ET.
