Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Peter Thorburn has passed away. The former USA Eagle Men’s Head Coach was 81-years-old. During his lengthily career Thorburn played for New Zealand provincial giants Auckland. Post retirement he turned to coaching.
He was the first coach of North Harbour, beginning in 1985. It was a homecoming for the native of Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore.
Subsequent coaching included the head position at the Bristol Bears in England from 2001-2003. In 2006 he became interim coach of the USA Eagles. He retained the role through to the end of RWC 2007. While in charge of the USA Eagles, Thorburn made Todd Clever the USA captain. Clever went on to earn a USA record of 76 test caps.
Thorburn was also a renowned selected. He was an All Blacks selector on two separate occasions, first in the early 1990’s and then from 2000-2001.
