Brad Thorn to part ways with Reds at the end of Super Rugby Pacific

The Queensland Rugby Union have announced that this year’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign will be Brad Thorn’s last as the head coach of the Reds.

Following weeks of speculation surrounding his future, the QRU confirmed on Tuesday that Thorn’s sixth season in the role at Ballymore will be his last.

While this season hasn’t quite gone to plan for the Reds, Thorn will leave behind an unprecedented legacy at one of the traditional homes of Australian rugby.

Thorn, who won a Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks during his playing career, coached the Reds to a drought-breaking Super Rugby title in 2021.

The dual-international has also etched his name into Queensland Reds history as the clubs longest serving coach in more than 20 years.

Reflecting on his time at the Reds, Thorn said that “it’s been an honour” to coach the club – but insisted the “job’s not finished” just yet.

“It’s been an honour to coach Queensland,” Thorn said in a statement.

“As a Christian, I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for his strength and for the purpose he’s given me in being here over the past six years.

“I’d like to thank my family for their support and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them at season’s end.

“I’ve also been lucky to have a great group of staff who have had my back along every step of the way, and I thank them – they’re friends for life.

“The past six seasons have been equally enjoyable as they’ve been challenging, but I’m fortunate for the opportunity and hope when I do leave here, the program and culture is in better shape to when I started the job in 2018.

“To be part of a young footballer’s development is something special. It’s been great to see so many earn the opportunity to wear the maroon jersey for the first time, and then to go on and play for their country.

“The job’s not finished. We’ve got six games left and then finals – and we’ve got a plan to get there.”

When Thorn took over as the head coach of the Reds, the club was going through a bit of a transition period.

With plenty of younger players coming through the ranks, the former All Black helped mould them into the Super Rugby stars they are today – with some becoming Wallabies, too.

During his tenure in Brisbane, Thorn gave 62 players their debut for Queensland – with 14 going on to play for the national team.

QRU CEO David Hanham thanked Thorn for changing “the culture at Ballymore” during his time in the Reds’ hot seat.

“On behalf of the QRU I would like to congratulate and also thank Brad for a great job leading the Queensland Reds over the past six seasons,” Hanham said.

“Upon his appointment as head coach in 2017 he had to make tough decision – unpopular decisions, but they were for the betterment of the whole organisation.

“Built on care, humility and hard work, he changed the culture at Ballymore which then translated onto the field with three successive Super Rugby finals appearance and a title in 2021.

“Brad will continue to coach the Reds until the end of their current Super Rugby Pacific campaign. His fellow coaching staff and playing group are all equally committed with the goal of playing finals for a fourth-straight year.

“We will conduct a thorough process to appoint a new head coach for next season which will be communicated at the appropriate time.”

The Reds got their season back on track with a win over Moana Pasifika in Apia on Friday. They’re currently on a bye, but are set to return to action at home against the Force on Saturday week.

– Reds/press release