Dick Thornett
Second Row
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2002
- Date of Birth:
- 23 September 1940
- Birthplace:
- Sydney, NSW
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- Parramatta
- Date:
- 06 April 1963
- Opposition:
- -
- Venue:
- Sydney Cricket Ground
- Representative:
- Sydney Firsts, NSW City Seconds, NSW Firsts, NSW City Firsts, Australia
- Club:
- Parramatta, Eastern Suburbs
Career
Milestones
- The Ashes - 1963/64, 1966
- World Cup - 1968
- Test Series - Australia vs South Africa 1963, France vs Australia 1963/64, Australia vs France 1964
- Interstate Series - 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
Biography
Dick Thornett played 11 Rugby Union Tests over two seasons before switching codes to join his brother Ken at Parramatta.
The youngest of three brothers, Dick also represented Australia in water polo at the 1960 Rome Olympics before touring South Africa with the Wallabies the following year, alongside his eldest brother John.
In 1963, he transitioned to Rugby League, joining an elite group of athletes who represented Australia in three different sports when he made his Test debut against South Africa. Alongside Ken, Dick became part of the first pair of brothers to play together in an Australian Test team since Viv and Bill Farnsworth in 1912.
A powerful second-row forward, Thornett toured with the 1963-64 Kangaroo team, which won the Ashes, playing in all three Tests against Great Britain. He scored a try in the historic 50-12 victory over England in the Second Test at Swinton. Thornett continued to represent Australia in Tests against France in 1964 and Great Britain in 1966 before making his final Test appearance at the 1968 World Cup.
Known for his skill as a ball-player, he matched Parramatta’s then club record by scoring four tries in a game against Canterbury in 1968. However, a bout of hepatitis took a toll on his final seasons, and he concluded his career with Easts after one last year with the club.
Hall of Fame Members
Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.