Ron Lynch (rugby league)

Ron Lynch (12 June 1939 – 12 May 2024) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and 1970s. An Australian international and New South Wales interstate representative forward, he played club football in NSW for Young, Forbes, Parramatta and Penrith.

Ron Lynch
Personal information
Born(1939-06-12)12 June 1939
Young, New South Wales, Australia
Died12 May 2024(2024-05-12) (aged 84)
Playing information
PositionLock, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
195?–60 Forbes
1961–71 Parramatta 194 28 0 0 84
1972–73 Penrith 44 10 0 0 30
Total 238 38 0 0 114
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1960 NSW Country 1 0 0 0 0
1960–67 New South Wales 17 2 0 0 6
1961–70 Australia 12 1 0 0 3
1962–67 NSW City 3 2 0 0 6
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1970 Parramatta 22 4 0 18 18
Source: [1]
As of 20 June 2019

Playing career

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Young

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Lynch started his playing career in the town of his birth, Young, where he played Maher Cup.

Forbes

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Lynch moved to Forbes for work where he gained selection in the Country NSW and New South Wales sides in 1960.[2]

Parramatta

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Lynch then moved to Sydney for the 1961 NSWRFL season, playing for the Parramatta club after they paid a £700 transfer fee.[3] During that season he made his Test debut against the Kiwis in New Zealand. Appointed captain of Parramatta, in 1963 Lynch led his club to victory over the touring South African side.

In 1964 he was the top try-scorer in a combined Sydney side's 49–2 rout of France.[4] Lynch was selected to go on the 1967–68 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. He played in the first and second Ashes series Test matches against Great Britain and in the first and second Test matches against France.[5]

Penrith

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Moving to Penrith for the 1972 NSWRFL season, Lynch was appointed captain of the club. He retired at the end of the 1973 season.

Coaching career

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In 1970, Lynch was Parramatta's captain-coach. The following season was to be his last for the club.[6]

Later life

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Lynch was inducted into the Parramatta Eels hall of fame in 2003. He died following a long illness on 12 May 2024, 31 days before his 85th birthday.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Ron Lynch - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ^ "Ron Lynch". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International Pty Ltd. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  3. ^ Clarkson, Alan (6 February 1961). "Lynch for City Club". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Sydney whips French Team". The Age. 25 May 1964. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Official Player Numbers". Parramatta Eels.
  6. ^ "Ron Lynch". nrlstats.com. Sports Data. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Vale: Ron "Thirsty" Lynch – Eels Hall Of Fame Player". The Cumberland Throw. 12 May 2024.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Ian Johnston
1968−1969
Coach
 
Parramatta

1970
Succeeded by
Ian Walsh
1971−1972