Former Connacht lock Gavin Thornbury joins Northampton Saints on short-term deal

Former Connacht second row Gavin Thornbury has joined up with Premiership champions Northampton Saints on a short-term deal.

The 30-year-old had been without a club since departing Connacht at the end of last season, but has agreed a short-term contract at Phil Dowson's side, who are short on second row cover after injuries to Emeka Atuanya and Tom Lockett.

Thornbury played 75 times for Connacht between 2017 and 2024, with the 6ft 8in lock enduring a frustrating time due to injury.

In the 2020/21 season, the Dublin native looked on course for Test honours when he was named to the Pro14 Dream Team after an impressive campaign in which he featured 19 times.

Injuries limited the lock to just 17 games across the next three seasons, although he did captain the province for their opening game of the 2022/23 URC. During that campaign he also featured for Ireland 'A’ in their clash with an All Blacks Select XV in November 2022, while he was among the wider Ireland senior squad during the Autumn Nations Series.

"Gavin comes to us on a short-term deal, and has already thrown himself into things here at Saints," director of rugby Phil Dowson said.

"He’s a great character and he’s ambitious. Gavin’s a big man and a set-piece orientated player, but he’s also mobile and hits hard in defence.

"Gavin’s got a great knowledge of the game, he’s an experienced player and very highly thought of – you have to be to get close to that Ireland set-up as a lock.

"He has been unlucky with injuries over his career, but we felt we could give Gavin the space to contribute something while he’s here in Northampton, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes."

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