Parramatta and Australia rugby league legend Ron Lynch dies aged 84

The Parramatta and Australian rugby league community has been saddened by the death of a legend of the game Ron Lynch.

Parramatta captain Ron Lynch during training at Cumberland Oval in Sydney, 11/03/68 ahead of 1968 season.

Parramatta and Australian legend Ron Lynch has died. He was 84.

A Forster resident, Lynch died on Sunday in Sydney hospital after a long illness.

Lynch grew up in Young and played 194 first grade games for Parramatta between 1961 and 1971 before representing City, Country and NSW.

Nicknamed Thirsty, Lynch played 12 Tests matches, making his Australian debut against New Zealand in 1961.

He toured with the 1967-68 Kangaroos.

A strong lock, Lynch may well have played more representative football but found himself in an era that included Immortal lock forward, John Raper.

Parramatta Eels legend Ron Lynch.

Ron Lynch made 12 appearances for Australia

“Ron ‘Thirsty’ was one of Parramatta’s all-time greats,” remembers teammate Denis Fitzgerald.

“He was also a great family man who was very highly regarded and respected throughout the Parramatta community.

“It was a pleasure to play with Ron in 1970 and 1971 at Parramatta and he was someone I always looked up to.

“He played an integral role in the Eels teams that made the semi-finals in the 1960s, which included a number of the all-time greats including Ken and Dick Thornett, Billy Rayner, Bob O’Reilly and Brian Hambly.”

Lynch also played 44 games for Penrith in 1972 and 1973 for a total of 238 first grade matches, scoring 38 tries and winning exactly 100 matches.

He captain-coached Parramatta in 1970.

Originally published as Parramatta and Australia rugby league legend Ron Lynch dies aged 84