Dubbed the star-boy of Luxembourgish rugby, Fintan Lawlor has made the next step in his career, moving to SL Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal. The diminutive fly-half has spent the past few years playing in the youth ranks of Jacou Montpellier in the south of France and is no stranger to Luxembourgish rugby fans, with his salmon-like movement, gliding past defenders through his agility and stepping ability.
He has been a stalwart in the national side for the past four years, despite being only 22 years of age.
Lawlor expressed his delight at joining Benfica, saying: «I’m loving it, it has been great.» He joined the club last month, although the move was only made official on Thursday.
His schedule will be demanding as he balances life as a full-time professional with his studies. He is embarking on a master’s course in management through evening classes, allowing him to pursue both his professional rugby career and his studies at the same time.
His former U18 national team manager, Manuel Gaivão, put him in contact with the 10-time Portuguese champions, who train in a fully professional environment, and both Lawlor and Benfica were eager to get him in the squad.
The young number 10’s goal was to improve his rugby ability and he was content with being in a professional setup. However, he is being given his chance to play in pre-season and looks set to feature in the top Portuguese division.
Portuguese rugby is currently on the up, with the national team not only competing at the last World Cup but also beating Fiji in a historic fixture. As Benfica are one of the top teams, their squad is littered with national team players.
