Background
He was born in Auckland, New Zealand.
He was born in Auckland, New Zealand.
Auckland Grammar School.
He played 39 matches for the All Blacks including 10 internationals. In the early 1970s he lived in South Africa and played for Northern Transvaal and Natal. In 2014, he featured on a list of the top 100 All Blacks.
Grahame"s sons Bruce and David also played rugby union.
Bruce played for Transvaal and the Junior Springboks and David played club rugby in Nelson. After his playing career, Thorne worked as a sports commentator for Television New Zealand, often appearing alongside Keith Quinn.
television archive website New Zealand on Screen described the scene as "a key moment in Kiwi fashion history."
Thorne was the National Party for Onehunga in the 43rd parliament from 1990 to 1993. After his parliamentary career Thorne held local government roles as an elected councillor of Onehunga Borough Council, Auckland City Council, Auckland Regional Council, Nelson City Council (2004).
Was an unsuccessful candidate for Christchurch City Council in 2007 then was an unsuccessful candidate for Queenstown Lakes District Council in 2010.
Thorne described his unsuccessful Christchurch candidacy as due to "not thinking clearly at the time" but that he had generally "given best when elected to public office.".
A centre and second five-eighth, Thorne represented Auckland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1967 to 1970.