Looks like the 36-year-old Thorn will be reinforcing Leinster's second row in the near future as Leinster have cut their losses with South African Steven Sykes. Over on his rather undercover blog, Sindo rugby writer Brendan Fanning explains the deal:
Thorn is currently playing there for Fukoaka Sanix Blues but their league season wraps up next week – when the All Black will celebrate his 37th birthday – leaving him free to give Leinster a dig out for a few months if the club agree.
Fanning adds that Thorn could be added to the Leinster roster for the Heineken Cup as an 'extra-man'. You can't beat adding a legitimate hard man of world rugby at this juncture of the season, even if he is 36.
Here's a tribute to Thorn's All-Blacks career.
[youtube]
]Whatever happens, it's obvious now that Leinster have cut their losses on Sykes. Many vague reasons have been mooted for why Sykes has left Dublin. Balls.ie readers will remember that Northampton's Bryan Mujati levelled allegations of racism at Sykes back in August. An internal investigation by Leinster cleared Sykes.
