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| Full name | Bradley Carnegie Thorn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1975-02-03)3 February 1975 (age 50) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 114 kg (251 lb; 17 st 13 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row, Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bradley Carnegie Thorn (born 3 February 1975) is aNew Zealand Australianrugby union coach and formerrugby league and rugby union footballer. Born in New Zealand, he represented Australia in rugby league and New Zealand in rugby union in a twenty-two year career as a player, starting at age nineteen and finishing at age forty-one. He was the head coach of theQueensland Reds inSuper Rugby Pacific.
Thorn played rugby league for theBrisbane Broncos in theAustralianNational Rugby League (NRL) competition for a total of ten seasons in two spells, and representedQueensland in theState of Origin series. He played eight times for Australia – five for the Kangaroos, and three games for the Super League Australia team. His preferred position in rugby league was in thesecond-row, though he was equally effective as aprop. In 2000 Thorn was awarded theAustralian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
He first moved to rugby union in 2001, in his mid-twenties, and played as alock. Over two spells in the sport, became the first player to win a World Cup, a Super Rugby title and the Heineken Cup.[5] He won 59 international caps for New Zealand, and was part of the team that won the2011 Rugby World Cup. Thorn holds the world record for the oldest player to play in the final of a World Cup and win it, aged 36 years, 262 days vs France 23 October 2011.
Thorn was born inMosgiel, just outsideDunedin in south-easternOtago.[6][7] When Thorn was five-years-old, his family moved to south-centralOtago (Cromwell/Bannockburn).[a] Moving again, Thorn’s family left forBrisbane,Queensland, Australia when he was nine-years-old (1984),[10] and was educated at Aspley East State School andAspley State High School.[10][11]
Growing up in the northern suburbs ofBrisbane, Thorn played junior rugby league forNorths Aspley and Wests Arana Panthers.[12][13]
With the help of Kangaroos teammateJason Stevens, Thorn became aborn-againChristian in 1998.[14][15][16] Thorn stated toThe Times: “I do feel now I have purpose, believe there is aGod that loves me. I want be a good father and husband and in a footy context give my best.”[15] A few years later, in 2011, Thorn said toStuff: “I had money, a car, a house – I thought these things would make me happy. But once I got there and got all these things, I still felt unfulfilled. I felt empty ... it was only when I put my faith inJesus that life changed for me.”[17]
Thorn made his first grade debut in theNSWRL for theBrisbane Broncos, who were then defending premiers, in the1994 Winfield Cup season's 12th round against theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. At season's end he was awarded the club's rookie of the year award.
At the outbreak of theSuper League war in 1995 Thorn, along with the rest of his Broncos teammates and players of several other clubs, was aligned withSuper League and so ineligible for selection in theAustralian Rugby League's1995 State of Origin series or post-season1995 Rugby League World Cup. The following year, when all players were again allowed to be selected for representative football, Thorn's debut for theQueensland Maroons came in Game I of the1996 State of Origin series. He held his place at second-row forward for all three games of that series.
In the1997 Super League season Thorn played in all three games for Queensland in that year'sSuper League Tri-series. He also made his international debut for Australia againstNew Zealand. Thorn won his first premiership with the Broncos when they defeated theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the 1997 Super League grand final in Brisbane. In the 1997 post season, Thorn was selected to travel to England and play forAustralia at prop forward in all three matches of theSuper League Test series againstGreat Britain, scoring a try in the third and deciding test victory. It was on this tour that his front-row partnerJason Stevens helped convince Thorn to convert to Christianity.[18]
Following the sport's re-unification under theNational Rugby League, Thorn was selected in Game II of the1998 State of Origin series. He also continued to representAustralia in all three Tests of the 1998 international series againstNew Zealand. Thorn also played at second-row forward in the Broncos' victory at the1998 NRL Grand Final, winning his second premiership ring.
Thorn was selected to play for Queensland again in Game III of1999 State of Origin series and all three matches of the2000 State of Origin series. He then played at second-row forward for the Broncos in their2000 NRL Grand Final win over theSydney Roosters, claiming a third premiership.
In 2005 Thorn moved back to Brisbane and theNational Rugby League, again playing with the Broncos for another three years. He enjoyed further representative selection for Queensland in all three games of the2005 State of Origin series, scoring atry in Game II.
Thorn claimed another premiership ring when he played at second-row in the Broncos'2006 NRL Grand Final victory over theMelbourne Storm. As 2006 NRL Premiers, the Broncos travelled to England to face 2006Super League champions,St Helens in the2007 World Club Challenge. Thorn played at second-row forward in the Broncos' 14–18 loss.
During the2007 NRL season at the Broncos' 20-year anniversary celebration, the club announced a list of the 20 best players to play for them to date which included Thorn.[19] At the close of the2007 NRL season Thorn switched codes once again, moving back to New Zealand to continue his rugby union career.
In 2001 Thorn moved to New Zealand and switched to rugby union, playing for theCrusaders in theSuper 12 andCanterbury in theNational Provincial Championship. He was part of the Canterbury squad that won the NPC in 2001. He had initially been picked for the end of year All Black tour in 2001 but he pulled out due to his own uncertainty of commitment to the 15-man game.[20] In 2003, Thorn went on to play for New Zealand'sAll Blacks, appearing in 12 tests, including the2003 Rugby Union World Cup. He thus became a dual rugby-code international, the second man in history (afterBill Hardcastle) to have represented Australia in league and New Zealand in union. In 2004 Thorn won the NPC with Canterbury. He also won the Tri-Nations with NZ in 2003.
Thorn signed withTasman Rugby Union in October, 2007, making him again eligible for theCrusaders. He won theSuper 14 competition with the Crusaders in 2008 against theWaratahs in superb style with a 20–12 win. He thus became the second person to win both a Super Rugby title and an NRL title. This feat was first achieved byPeter Ryan for the Brisbane Broncos in 1998 and the Brumbies in 2001, and since Thorn, only by former Crusaders teammateSonny Bill Williams and Queensland Reds/Melbourne Storm playerWill Chambers in 2012. After his contribution to the Crusaders, Thorn was selected for the All Blacks to play the first test of 2008 against Ireland in Wellington. He won a second Tri-Nations with New Zealand in 2008 and a third in 2010.
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During the 2011 Super Rugby season, Thorn signed a deal to join Japanese clubFukuoka Sanix Blues in the JapaneseTop League after the Rugby World Cup. On 23 October 2011, Thorn was part of theAll Blacks team which won theRugby World Cup 2011, beatingFrance 8–7 in the Final.
In March 2012, during the Japanese off season, Thorn signed a 3-month short-term contract with European championsLeinster.[21] Leinster went on to win the2012 Heineken Cup and Thorn started at lock in thefinal. Achieving this title meant Thorn was the first player to win a World Cup, a Super Rugby title and the Heineken Cup.[5] He has since been joined in this feat byBakkies Botha,Danie Rossouw andBryan Habana.
In October 2012, it was reported that Thorn has agreed in principle to join theHighlanders Super rugby franchise for the 2013 season.[22] Thorn would be joining the Dunedin-based franchise with incoming World Cup final teammatesMa'a Nonu andTony Woodcock both of whom were joining from the Blues in Auckland.
On 4 May 2013 against the Sharks in Dunedin Thorn played his 100th Super rugby game.
In 2014 a bicep injury which required surgery ended his season and called into question whether Thorn would be able to reach his stated goal of playing rugby union professionally until age 40. However, in August 2014, Thorn decided to extend his career once again, signing a deal with English clubLeicester Tigers.[23]
On 8 April 2015, Thorn announced that he would retire at the end of the2014–15 season.[24]
In 2016, Thorn came out of retirement, aged 41, and played for Queensland Country in Australia's National Rugby Championship.
Thorn's extended playing career - 22 seasons as a professional - has been attributed to his professional approach, including focuses on stretching, listening to his body, and doing only light weights when he felt that was right for him.[25] Thorn is known for his strength and his dedication to weight training throughout his career.
In May 2015 Thorn was revealed to be a newly appointed “Development/Forwards coach” of the AustralianSuper Rugby team, theQueensland Reds, starting in late 2015.[26][27] His appointment was scheduled in preparation for the following season (2016).[28] Following his appointment, Thorn held that he wasn't actually retired from playing and that if the Queensland Reds needed him to play, he'd be available: “There's always an urge. I didn't actually retire – I'm just playing less now ... If things were like dire straits, I'm happy to help out any way I can, but I think things are under control at the moment.”[28] In 2016 it was also revealed that Thorn would be the assistant of one of theQueensland-basedNational Rugby Championship (NRC) teams,Queensland Country. While in the role with Queensland Country, Thorn was selected and played in two of their matches (round five,round six).[29][30]
Before the start to the2017 National Rugby Championship season, Thorn was announced as the new head coach of Queensland Country.[31][32] Thorn's first season as the head coach of a rugby union team was very successful. With Queensland Country finishing the regular season second on the ladder,[33] gaining a finals spot, the seasons success included a six win-streak fromrounds two toround eight. The regular season also included Queensland Country winning theHoran-Little Shield for the first time. The team only held the trophy for one round however, as they lost at home toPerth Spirit the following week.[34] In the first week of finals, the Queensland Country were placed against theFijian Drua, whom were playing in their first NRC season. The Queensland Country had beaten the Drua just15 days prior to their finals encounter. Queensland Country dominated the fixture overwhelmingly (winning 57–21),[35] and, it stands as the second-largest finals victory by margin in the NRC's history.
With the Queensland Reds finishing fourteenth (of eighteen), and Brad Thorn having won his first trophy as a coach (and the first NRC title for Queensland Country), Thorn was appointed coach of the Queensland Reds in October 2017.[36][37][38] Thorn was joined byPaul Carozza as second-in-command one month later, his assistant at Queensland Country.[39][40]Scott Higginbotham was named team captain.[41]
Thorn's first season as coach of the Reds (2018), although an improvement compared to prior seasons, was mediocre and inadequate. The Reds finished thirteenth on the overall standings (in front of only theBlues and theSunwolves) and was the lowest-placedAustralian team. Although Thorn's debut match as coach was a thumping loss to theMelbourne Rebels (45–19),[42] Thorn's Reds went on a three-match win-streak beating theBrumbies 18–10 at home,[43] theBulls 20–14 at home,[44] and theJaguares 7–18 away.[45] This initial successive start to the season under Thorn was a stark difference from previous years under the likes ofRichard Graham,Matt O'Connor andNick Stiles. Indeed, not since April 2013 did the Reds manage to string three consecutive wins together.[45] Following the Reds'stoic win over the Jaguares inBuenos Aires, they were sitting fourth on the overall standings. Unfortunately that brief success to the start of the season was overturned as the Reds lost four-straight matches,[46][47] sitting thirteenth overall after ten rounds. For the remainder of the season the Reds won three and lost five to finish the season in thirteenth with six wins and ten losses. The Queensland Reds were not the only Australian side to have a poor season. In fact, the2018 Super Rugby season saw theNew South Wales Waratahs as the only Australian team to finish in a finals position.
The following season (2019) saw better defence from the Reds, however they finished with the same points total and wins than the previous season.[48] The Reds' win record was sporadic and often inconsistent. Throughout the entire season the Reds never finished above ninth.
After the break-up of theSuper Rugby competition following-on from theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Reds were competing in the newly createdSuper Rugby AU for the2020 and2021 seasons. With two highly successful seasons in the new competition, Thorn coached the Reds to runner-up in the2020 season, and to the2021 championship, defeating the ACT Brumbies.[49] This was Thorn's second trophy as a rugby union coach, the trophies being3 years, 178 days between each other. The Reds were back to normalcy after resuming in the re-arranged Super Rugby Pacific for2022.
The 2022 season has been the most successful season for Brad Thorn in a multi-country style Super Rugby competition. And the Reds were going in as Super Rugby AU champions. Indeed, the first four rounds were victorious for the Reds, beating all Australian other than theBrumbies inround five. The Reds won the next three matches and by the conclusion of the tenth round the Reds were sitting fourth overall (second-placed Australian team overall). The Reds won one match for the remainder of the season, finishing seventh overall. In the firstfinals series fixture the Reds lost to theCrusaders 37–15.[50][51]
In April 2023, Thorn confirmed he will finish as coach of the Queensland Reds at the conclusion of the2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[52][53]
Thorn was appointed as an assistant head coach of theBrisbane Boys' College 1st XV.
Thorn was announced as the new forwards coach of theMalta National Team on 15th September 2025.[54]
| Team | Comp. | Season | Matches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | % | |||
 Queensland Country | National Rugby Championship | 2017 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 080.00 |
| Queensland Reds | Super Rugby[b] | 2018 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 037.50 |
| 2019 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 037.50 | ||
| 2020 (AU) | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 047.06 | ||
| 2021 (TT) | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 064.29 | ||
| 2022 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 053.33 | ||
| 2023 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 033.33 | ||
| Queensland Reds Total | 93 | 42 | 1 | 50 | 45.16 | ||
Brisbane Broncos
State of Origin
Kangaroos
Canterbury
Crusaders
New Zealand
Leinster
Bradley Carnegie Thorn was born in Mosgiel, Otago, where his watchmaking father Lindsay would pluck Thorn from his cot to watch test matches beamed from the other side of the world and encourage him to sing along to a crackling 45 of Big Bad Don, a tribute to his hero, Don Clarke. When he was 5 the family moved to Bannockburn, where he fitted in two seasons of littlies' rugby before the Thorns flew to Australia to seek better job opportunities and a better education for Brad and his older brother, Aaron.
Born in Mosgiel, his family shifted to Bannockburn in Central Otago before relocating to Australia where he began playing rugby league and eventually represented the Kangaroos and Queensland.
Thorn (36) lived in Cromwell for four years when he was aged from 5 to 9, before his family shifted to Brisbane.
It wasn't easy. When I became a Christian in '98 I was probably at my peak of boozing and carrying on, but I really felt like there were some things I needed to sort out in my life and one of them was boozing.
