CONNACHT HAVE ANNOUNCED the signing of former Leinster second row Gavin Thornbury on a two-year contract.
The 23-year-old has spent the last six months playing rugby in New Zealand with club side Border, and his performances for the North Island side earned him a place in the Wanganui provincial team.
Thornbury’s superb form helped Wanganui win the Meads Cup last October and his progress in New Zealand has not gone unnoticed with Connacht securing his services for next season onwards.
The former Blackrock College and UCD lock spent three years in the Leinster academy but after earning a professional contract with the eastern province in 2015, his first season was plagued by injury.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to play with Connacht Rugby,” he said.
“The exciting brand of rugby is hugely attractive and I very much hope to build on my experience to date – particularly from New Zealand. I look forward to making a positive contribution to the club’s continued success over the next few years.”
Commenting on the capture of Thornbury, Connacht CEO Willie Ruane said: ”We’re delighted to have Gavin joining us next season. He is a young Irish lock who has huge potential and has shown his desire to succeed at this level by taking a chance with his move to New Zealand where he did very well.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
So its wrong 2% of the time. As oppose to the 17% before. Worth it.
The reluctance to flag for offside because of VAR is annoying too. Joel Matip gave away a corner against Arsenal because he blocked a shot from a clearly offside Aubameyang. Same happened when Adrian made a save from an offside player against Burnley.
@Gary: it’s not a reluctance, the actual rule has changed so the AR now must wait to flag. This is just one of the many rules that have had to be changed to accommodate VAR; others include the handball rule and rules relating to the taking and officiating of penalties. There will be more changes to the rules in order to accommodate VAR, which is such a shame as it is slowly ruining football for me.
@JoeO: The offside rule is still the exact same, it’s just that assistant referees know if their decision is wrong they can go back to it after the play finishes rather than stopping an attack then being proven wrong by VAR and having no idea how to restart.
The technology exists to put a chip in the ball and monitor where it is on the pitch at all times. Easily done.
@Mick O’Shea: That is already done no? The goal line technology used the past three years.
The new handball rule is there to justify VAR and nothing else, is absolutely rediculous, nonsensical and cannot last. It is driving viewers round the bend.
@Sheila Teehan: if that’s the case, how does the new rule justify VAR?
I feel that the new handball rule is causing a lot of anger and VAR is the scapegoat. It’s dodgy now but it’ll be fine in a year
Lot of experts on here.