Gavin Thornbury (born 19 October 1993) is an Irish rugby union player who plays as a lock for Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership.
| Birth name | Gavin Thornbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 19 October 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (18.3 st; 256 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Blackrock College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University College Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Having completed three years in the Leinster Academy upon leaving Blackrock College, Thornbury earned a professional development contract for the 2015–16 season.[1] However, Thornbury left Leinster to spend six months in New Zealand, where he played for club side Border on the North Island and helped them to victory in the Wanganui premier club competition. This earned Thornbury a call-up to Wanganui provincial representative team, who play in the Heartland Championship - the tier below New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup and, in October 2016, Thornbury helped Wanganui win the Meads Cup.[2]
Thornbury returned to Ireland and joined western province and then-defending Pro14 champions Connacht on a two-year contract in April 2017.[2] Following a strong season in the Championship, Thornbury was named to the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team.[3]
On 26 September 2024, Thornbury would move to English side Northampton Saints on a short-term deal as injury cover in the Gallagher Premiership for the 2024-25 season.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Four for the Blues' future". The Herald. 29 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Second Row Thornbury Signs For Connacht". Irish Rugby. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "The Media Votes are in - Who made the Guinness PRO14 Dream Team?". Pro14 rugby. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ "Ex-Connacht lock Thornbury joins Northampton Saints". RTE.ie. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.