Dublin-born Gavin Thornbury arrived at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens ahead of the 2024/25 season, joining on a short-term deal from United Rugby Championship side Connacht Rugby, where he made 77 appearances across seven seasons at the province.
A former student of both Blackrock College and University College Dublin, Thornbury initially began in Leinster’s Academy system but – after a short stint in New Zealand where he helped provincial side Wanganui lift the Meads Cup – he joined the then-reigning Pro14 champions Connacht during the 2016/17 season.
The 6’8” lock’s debut at Connacht would come the following term, and Thornbury’s 19 matches during the 2020/21 campaign earned him a place in the Pro14 Dream Team that season – with Thornbury also having featured for Ireland Under-20s and the Irish Wolfhounds over his career so far.
| Season | Apps | T | C | DG | P | PTS |
|---|
| '24-'25 | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
