A state and national representative versatile back, he played twenty-four Test matches for Australia, once as captain.

[5] He was an excellent goal-kicker and a punishing defender who used his full 14 stone playing weight to hit opponents ferociously.

In 1959 he played for Australia in both Tests against the visiting British Lions as well as in state and regional representative teams that met them.

[1] On the tour to New Zealand that same year he was the squad's vice-captain with John Thornett commencing his leadership ascendancy at that time.

Lenehan played in nine of the thirteen matches, including all three Tests and captained the side in a mid-week tour game.

Injury stopped him making any representative appearances in 1963 and he was sent home from a tour squad bound for South Africa with a knee problem.

His devastating defensive capabilities saw him named for the 1966–67 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and France.