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Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has urged injury-plagued five-eighth Tom Lynagh to not be swayed by the allure of an overseas venture, and stressed that despite his frustrating Super Rugby campaign he remained firmly in Test contention.<\/p>\n
Lynagh is out of contract at the end of this season. Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly have confirmed Rugby Australia has made Lynagh an offer, despite the playmaker being limited to 18 minutes of game time in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n Lynagh has compiled a worrying list of health problems since clinching the No.10 jumper for the British and Irish Lions series last year.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old suffered concussion and hamstring issues, which cost him the chance to feature in his maiden spring tour.<\/p>\n Further leg concerns \u2013 most recently a calf \u2013 and illness have kept Lynagh from lining up for the Queensland Reds\u2019 in the Super Rugby Pacific and he will not play on Friday against the Chiefs in Brisbane.<\/p>\n In his absence, Carter Gordon and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips have thrust themselves on the Test radar,<\/a> while Western Force No.10 Ben Donaldson and Brumbies youngster Declan Meredith have also caught Schmidt\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n Lynagh has strong European connections. The son of Test great Michael Lynagh, he was born in Italy, who his brother Louis Lynagh represents while starring for Benetton. Benetton has also recruited Louis Werchon and Josh Flook from next season since forging a partnership with the Reds.<\/p>\n Schmidt believed Lynagh had a long future in the gold jumper, but conceded his chances of fulfilling that legacy would diminish if he left Australia, given the game\u2019s restrictions on players who ply their trade abroad.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s pretty keen to be involved with the Wallabies \u2026 if he did go offshore, he wouldn\u2019t really be accessible to us,\u201d Schmidt said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always going to favour the guy who\u2019s based here because that\u2019s a way to keep building our domestic strength.\u201d<\/p>\n Schmidt said Lynagh had \u201cknown value\u201d in Wallabies colours, and would have every opportunity to prove he warranted a call-up for the first Test of 2026 against Ireland on July 4.<\/p>\n But he stopped short of putting an exact number on how much game time Lynagh would need, adding that finding opportunities for fitness and momentum could be difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re already getting tight,\u201d Schmidt said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got four rounds left, and then your play-off rounds, and the Irish Test comes up very quickly after that.\u201d<\/p>\n Those final four rounds will also be a golden chance for NRL convert Zac Lomax to press his case for a Test debut, having shown impressive signs since his high-profile defection to the Force.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old\u2019s first starting appearance for the club was headlined by a decisive try in his side\u2019s comeback win against the Crusaders, while his aerial presence has long been a strength.<\/p>\n Schmidt hinted that Lomax needed to improve his defensive positioning to warrant selection, particularly given the form of more established wingers, including Max Jorgensen, Filipo Daugunu, Corey Toole and Dylan Pietsch. On Tuesday, it was announced Pietsch had extended his contract with RA until the end of 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we all need to see a little bit more of Zac, but having met Zac, he is massively driven,\u201d Schmidt said.<\/p>\n Related Article Schmidt has also stayed in contact with former Reds star Jordan Petaia, who has been \u201cplaying with a bit more authority\u201d in France for USA Perpignan.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Wallabies prop Angus Bell will return from a foot injury to play for Ulster against the Stormers this Saturday in Belfast.<\/p>\n Bell\u2019s return puts the prop in the frame to play for the Wallabies against Ireland on the 4 July when he returns to the Waratah from his successful sabbatical in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n Watch every match of Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> live and exclusive on Stan Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/d58cf1d4508a6c1deed06985c1d4022645b17742.jpeg\")
Tom Lynagh has again been sidelined for the Queensland Reds.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Wallabies](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6b1d7d85dd948320c5e10664af40945cc1b9deee.jpeg\")
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6a95d64e4c4df46ec45b9cc57fb2b43ac7022e6f.jpeg\")
Former rugby league star Zac Lomax is starting to make an impression playing for the Western Force.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Tate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6ef09724000cede46d88a9504da12d7af515e6b8.jpeg\")
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