Thomas Lynch (rugby, born 1927)

This article is about the rugby union player for the All Blacks and rugby league player for Halifax in the 1950s. For his father, the rugby union player for the All Blacks in the 1910s, see Tom Lynch (rugby union). For the rugby league player of the 2010s, see Tom Lynch (rugby league).

Thomas William Lynch (20 July 1927 – 29 December 2006) was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league footballer. He played three rugby union internationals for New Zealand in 1951, before switching codes and joining English club Halifax (Heritage № 640), for whom he made 188 appearances between 1951 and 1956.

Tom Lynch

Birth name	Thomas William Lynch
Date of birth	(1927-07-20)20 July 1927
Place of birth	Naseby, New Zealand
Date of death	29 December 2006(2006-12-29) (aged 79)
Place of death	Geraldine, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	84 kg (13 st 3 lb)
School	Alexandra District High School
Notable relative(s)	Tom Lynch (father)
Rugby league career
Position(s) Centre Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 1951–56 Halifax 188 ((354)) International career Years Team Apps (Points) Other Nationalities 4 ()
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1947–49 Otago 7 () 1950–51 Canterbury 8 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1951 New Zealand 3 (9)

Rugby union

A second five-eighth, Lynch represented Otago and Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1951. He played ten matches for the All Blacks on their tour of Australia that year, including three internationals, scoring 27 points in all.^[1]

Rugby league

In November 1951, Lynch accepted a contract to play professional rugby league for the Halifax club in England. At the time, his signing fee of £5000 was a record for a New Zealand player paid by an English club.^[2] He played for Halifax until 1956, making 188 appearances, scoring 112 tries and nine goals.^[3]

Challenge Cup final appearances

Lynch played centre in Halifax's 4–all draw with Warrington in the 1954 Challenge Cup final during the 1953–54 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 24 April 1954, in front of a crowd of 81,841. He also played at centre in the 4–8 defeat by Warrington in the replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Wednesday 5 May 1954, in front of a record crowd of 102,575 or more.^[4]

He later played in the 2–13 defeat by St. Helens in the 1956 Challenge Cup final during the 1955–56 season at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 April 1956.

International honours

Lynch won four caps for Other Nationalities while at Halifax.^[5]

Legacy

Lynch's testimonial match at Halifax took place in 1956. He is a Halifax Hall of Fame inductee.^[3]

Death

Lynch died in Geraldine on 29 December 2006.^[1]

References

1. Knight, Lindsay. "Tom Lynch". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
2. "N.Z. champion five-eighth accepts record offer". The West Australian. 30 November 1951. p. 21. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
3. "Halifax RLFC Hall of Fame". Halifax RLFC. 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
4. "Mud, blood and memories of the day when 102,575 made history at Odsal". independent.co.uk. 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
5. "Tommy Lynch". rugbyleagueproject.org. 13 February 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016.