Brian Michael Flynn

'Mick’ Flynn was from Ashgrove School in Queensland, where some outstanding Wallabies have been nurtured: Mick Barry, Paddy Batch, Graeme Bond, Des Connor, John Eales, Mick Flynn, Pat Howard, Nigel Kassulke, David L’Estrange, Barry and Bob Honan, Brendan Moon, Garrick Morgan (who went to Downslands in his final years), Alex Pope, Sam Scott-Young (who went to Townsville Grammar in his final years), Shane Sullivan (who went on to Nudgee) and Bob Wood.

Flynn gravitated to the Brothers Club, which is second to the Randwick Club in Sydney in producing the greatest number of internationals. Mick would play flanker, prop and lock and was the type of player who was utterly dependable, but could not break through at the very top level of the game. This can partly be ascribed to luck, or simply that superior players blocked his way.

It was in 1970 that he was provided with his first opportunity, and it was to play for Queensland against Scotland. The Queensland team, captained by Jules Guerassimoff, stunned the Scots with a 16 to 13 victory. This was Queensland’s first win against a full international side since 1899. It was both a sensational and controversial game, as prop David Dunworth was sent off. The star was Guerassimoff, a great competitor who played himself to a standstill. Mick was a mere 20- years- of- age at the time.

The year 1971 appears to have been his peak year. It started against the 1971 Springboks at Ballymore, Queensland going down valiantly by 14 to 33. On the basis of his performance, he found himself in another game against them three days later. It was for the Junior Wallabies, captained by Mick Barry. The Junior Wallabies succumbed by 12 to 31. Mick had shown that he was of the right mettle, and he was selected on a short tour of France and North America in 1971, led by the indomitable ex- New Zealander, Greg Davis. Eight matches were played in France, and Mick was in two of them, against the French Second Division (lost 9-16), and a French Regional XV (lost 13-25).

Two matches were played in North America, one against the Eastern Union and one against a British Columbia Regional XV. Though he held up his end on the tour, it was obvious that he was lacking somewhat in comparison with others in his position. This, then, was his only serious tilt at the top level.

He did not re-appear in the State team until 1975 against England, playing as lock. The strength of the Brothers Club at the time can be seen by the number in the Queensland team for this game: Dick Cocks (capt.), Flynn, Geoff White, Chris Handy, Mick Freney and David Dunworth, and Billy Andrews came on to replace an injured Bruce Cooke. The Queensland team made a tour of Japan, British Columbia and California in 1978, and Bret Harris had this to say in The Marauding Maroons: “Pilecki’s front-row replacement, Mick Flynn, arrived in San Francisco only 48 hours before the kick-off but showed no signs of jet-lag in a robust display. Sadly, the tour marked the former Wallaby breakaway’s last appearance in a Queensland jersey. Flynn was one of Queensland’s most dedicated players. He shattered one of his legs in 1975 in eight places but managed, with one leg shorter than the other, to make a successful comeback to representative rugby in a new position. The great sense of loss Queensland felt for Flynn was epitomised by the $30 000 which was raised for his wife and children”.

Flynn represented Queensland in 1969-70-71-74-75-78. Although he did not play a Test, he received two non-Test caps.