Former All Black loses son in car crash

Former All Black Grahame Thorne. Photo / Christchurch Star

A son of former All Black Grahame Thorne has died following a car crash in his home country of South Africa.

TV3 News reported that Bruce Thorne's wife and one-year-old son survived the crash.

Bruce, 37, was brought up in South Africa with his mother, Grahame Thorne's first wife, and was a talented rugby player himself, at one stage representing Transvaal and the Junior Springboks.

It's the second tragedy for the family after another of Thorne's sons, David, suffered severe brain injuries from a stroke which was brought on by a tackle in a club rugby match three years ago.

Thorne said he was close to Bruce and was devastated at the news of his death. He described his eldest son as "a great kid".

- NZPA