Rugby: Thorn must be regarded as one of our sporting greats

Brad Thorn has been a professional footballer since 1994. Photo / Getty Images

Patrick McKendry lists five reasons why Brad Thorn must now be regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest athletes.

1. Success

First things first. Thorn has just won a European Cup with Irish club Leinster in front of 82,000 supporters at Twickenham. Also in his bulging CV are a World Cup with the All Blacks, a Super Rugby title with the Crusaders and several NRL titles with the Brisbane Broncos. He played State of Origin league with Queensland and internationals with the Kangaroos. He is the first man in history to win a Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby title and a European Cup, Europe's biggest club prize. His success rate is extraordinary and his latest comes after a 16-month non-stop stretch of rugby. After winning the World Cup with the All Blacks, he travelled to Japan to play for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues and was loaned to Leinster. "I just love my footy," he said. No kidding. And before the Aussies try to claim another one, yes, he is a Kiwi. Brad Carnegie Thorn was born in Mosgiel on February 3, 1975 and moved to Australia with his family aged eight.

2. Longevity

At 37, Thorn became the oldest player in a European Cup final and shows no signs of stopping. He has rarely been bothered by serious injuries, despite the manner in which he throws himself about on the pitch. One of the most frustrating for him was a foot injury at the Crusaders in 2010 which caused him to modify his footwear. He has been a professional footballer since 1994 when he made his debut as a 19-year-old for the Broncos - he was named rookie of the year. He played 200 games for the Broncos over eight years, 14 times for Queensland and eight times for Australia. He played 59 tests for the All Blacks, 92 times for the Crusaders, 30 times for Canterbury and once for Tasman. He has spoken of his anxiety about facing life after rugby and it's probably partly fear, along with his huge ambition and durability, which has kept him in the game for so long.

3. Example

Although sportspeople shouldn't necessarily be considered role models in every sense, they do inevitably play a part and Thorn plays his better than most. He didn't like the way his life was heading when, as a league player in his 20s, he let the lifestyle go to his head so he gave up drinking to excess and converted to Christianity. He's not a complete teetotaller - Guinness is his favourite tipple which is probably another reason why he is enjoying his Irish experience so much, but only when celebrating and only one or two. Known for his fearsome training regimes and work ethic, Thorn is considered the ultimate professional which is why he has enjoyed so much success for so long. He rarely sits still, preferring to stretch his considerable muscles whenever given the opportunity.

4. Adaptability
It might seem surprising, but Thorn struggled when trying to learn his rugby craft for the Crusaders after making the move back from Australia. He was seen as a No 8 initially, but found the position difficult. He was 25, had taken a big pay cut, was living by himself and on the phone to wife Mary Anne back in Brisbane almost every night. It wasn't until he played at lock for Canterbury under current All Blacks coach Steve Hansen that he started to enjoy his rugby. The fact he quickly excelled at lock is all the more extraordinary given the position's core roles are pushing in scrums, leaping in lineouts, and clearing out rucks, all of which don't apply in league. During his latter years in New Zealand he was known as one of the hardest scrummaging locks in the country. One of Hansen's first tasks as All Blacks coach is to find a replacement for Thorn.

5. Character

Thorn is about as single-minded as it gets and yet is always keen to pass on his knowledge to younger players, particularly those in his position when others could see them as a threat. He can be gruff, but has a wicked sense of humour and isn't afraid to open up. Perhaps the last word should go to Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, a fellow New Zealander. "It was a really tough situation for him to come into," Schmidt said of Thorn's arrival at the club. "Other players got us into the final but he got the opportunity to play the quarters, semi and final and he felt a weight of responsibility to do his best to deliver because there were guys who missed out who contributed during the year. He wanted to make sure he did his best to fill in for them and get a result we were looking for and he gave every bit of effort to make sure it happened."