Brad Thorn joins English club Leicester

Veteran dual-rugby international Brad Thorn will extend his remarkable career once again, after signing a deal with English rugby outfit Leicester.

The Tigers rugby director Richard Cockerill confirmed on Tuesday that Thorn, who played for Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders this year, would be available for selection by the end of September.

The 39-year-old has achieved all that rugby league and rugby union can offer in a career which began with NRL side the Brisbane Broncos in 1994.

The lock forward became the first player in history to win the Rugby World Cup, achieved in 2011 with New Zealand, a Super Rugby title, with the Crusaders in 2008 and the Heineken Cup, won two years ago with Leinster.

Thorn also won three NRL titles and a Super League title across two stints as a second-rower with Brisbane, while also representing for Australia and Queensland in rugby league, in addition to his superb union career in which he was capped 59 times by the All Blacks.

“He is 39 years old but he wants to play for another season,” Cockerill said.

“I had a long discussion with him about what he wants to do and he wants to play in the Aviva Premiership. He wants to come here and test himself.

“That says a lot about him at this stage in his career, after all he has achieved, and the circumstances have created an opportunity for him here.

“We look forward to seeing him and bringing that experience into the squad.”

Thorn will join a Tigers squad that is set to lose versatile Australian forward Steve Mafi.

Mafi, who can play lock or flanker, is expected to link up with the Western Force.