Michael Lynagh, a former star of the Australia national rugby union team, is now looking to score a big real estate deal.
The former captain for Australia-turned-commentator is selling his seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in the Twickenham area of Richmond, a London suburb, for £6.25 million (US$7.9 million). The 7,870-square-foot home, listed last week, offers a slice of country living in the big city.
One of the home’s most unique features is its access to the Trust Grounds of St. Margarets, a 12-acre private communal garden with lakes, lawns and grass tennis courts. Only neighbors have access to the park, creating a tight-knit community.
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"The proximity to the river, parks and Trust Grounds [of St. Margarets] have been a huge benefit, coupled with the ease of getting into central London," Mr. Lynagh said in a statement.
Now, after six years, the family is looking to downsize, but they "have loved living here," said Mr. Lynagh, who is also the author of "Blindsided: A Rugby Great Confronts His Greatest Challenge" and the managing director in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Dow Jones, the parent company of Mansion Global.
The home "has fantastic flow," said Luke Ellwood, the agent representing the house. The Victorian house dates back 150 years, he said, but was entirely renovated when Mr. Lynagh moved in. It had previously been split into multiple units.
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Now the ground floor of the home has an open floor plan, including a family room and a fully remodeled kitchen with a breakfast nook. The kitchen opens up to the private landscaped garden with a patio in the back, which extends to the Trust Grounds. There’s also a formal dining room with a fireplace, study and a screening room.
Upstairs, the master bedroom boasts a dressing room and a bathroom with a soaking tub. There are five other individual bedrooms, as well as a second en-suite bedroom with a kitchenette. Additional space is available in the basement, as well as in the ample garage.
The Richmond neighborhood is ideal for families, Mr. Ellwood said, noting the "exceptional and plentiful" schools in the area. In addition to the Trust Grounds, Kew Gardens and Old Deer Park are close by, as is the Thames river.
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"It provides a nice lifestyle and recreational opportunities," Mr. Ellwood said. It provides a "fix" for urbanites who seek more of a countryside setting, he added.