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Sale launch cross-code raid
Sharks sign Thornley from Wigan
Last updated: 22nd July 2010 
Brewer: Signed teenage sensation
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Sale Sharks have raided rugby league neighbours Wigan Warriors for teenage centre Iain Thornley.
The 18-year-old had come through the academy set-up at the Warriors, with his form attracting interest from a number of other rugby league clubs.
However Thornley, who is 6ft 4in tall and weighs in at more than 15 stone, has agreed to cross codes after signing a three-year deal to move to Edgeley Park.
And Sale head coach Mike Brewer is confident Thornley can adapt with the switch across to union.
"Iain's name was brought to my attention shortly after arriving at the club and after having a look at him play and talking to him, I decided to sign him up," Brewer said.
"Iain is one of the hottest young properties in both codes of rugby. He has chosen to move to rugby union although he was a member of the Wigan first team squad and was attracting interest from Australian Rugby League sides.
"He is a big lad in peak condition who has pace, great handling skills and is very strong defensively.
"He will have to work hard but I have every confidence in him."
Video
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Aviva Premiership | |
| Sunday 12th February | |
| Aviva Premiership | |
| 13:15 | Wasps vs Saracens |
| Friday 17th February | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs London Irish |
| Saturday 18th February | |
| 14:30 | Bath vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Sale |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs Exeter |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs London Irish |
| 17:30 | Harlequins vs Worcester |
| Sunday 19th February | |
| 14:30 | Saracens vs Leicester |
| Friday 24th February | |
| 19:45 | Sale vs Wasps |
| 19:45 | Worcester vs Saracens |
| Saturday 25th February | |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Newcastle |
| 18:00 | Exeter vs Bath |
| 18:00 | Gloucester vs Harlequins |
| Sunday 26th February | |
| 13:15 | London Irish vs Northampton |
| Friday 2nd March | |
| 19:45 | Newcastle vs Harlequins |
| Saturday 3rd March | |
| 14:15 | Bath vs Worcester |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs London Irish |
| 15:00 | Exeter vs Sale |
| Sunday 4th March | |
| 13:00 | Leicester vs Gloucester |
| 15:30 | Saracens vs Northampton |
| Friday 23rd March | |
| 19:45 | Worcester vs Newcastle |
| 19:45 | Sale vs Saracens |
| Saturday 24th March | |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Exeter |
| 15:00 | Harlequins vs Bath |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Wasps |
| Result |
|---|
| Aviva Premiership |
| Saturday 11th February |
| Aviva Premiership |
| Exeter 19 - 11 Leicester |
| Bath 30 - 24 Newcastle |
| Gloucester 27 - 24 Northampton |
| Harlequins 30 - 23 London Irish |
| Friday 10th February |
| Sale 15 - 12 Worcester |
| Sunday 8th January |
| Saracens 26 - 19 Bath |
| London Irish 21 - 19 Sale |
| Saturday 7th January |
| Leicester 29 - 11 Wasps |
| Newcastle 10 - 16 Exeter |
| Worcester 21 - 15 Gloucester |
| Friday 6th January |
| Northampton 24 - 3 Harlequins |
| Sunday 1st January |
| Leicester 28 - 23 Sale |
| Saracens 15 - 15 Gloucester |
| Wasps 0 - 6 Worcester |
| Bath 30 - 3 London Irish |
| Saturday 31st December |
| Exeter 9 - 11 Harlequins |
| Newcastle 14 - 32 Northampton |
| Tuesday 27th December |
| Harlequins 11 - 19 Saracens |
| Worcester 13 - 32 Leicester |
| London Irish 29 - 22 Exeter |
| Monday 26th December |
| Gloucester 39 - 10 Wasps |
| Sale 27 - 19 Newcastle |
| Saturday 24th December |
| Northampton 22 - 13 Bath |
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Comments (9)
Kenneth Walter says...
Why can''t League supporters be more understanding when Union make a Rugby League signing.League has been poaching Union players for a 100 years or more without a moan from the then Amateur game .We always had respect for the professional game and wished players well when they went North to better themselves.League seems to have forgotten this in these completely Professional times. Ex-player and Union Supporter (Age 76)
Posted 16:36 27th July 2010
Bob Hirskyj says...
The lad must have some talent, but Sale have been struggling to bring through talent to the first team lately, so why not take him on. It will take him two seasons to get anywhere near the first team though, as he has to develop physically and learn the game is not just 5m passes and running straight. It makes a change from past it, not good enough or injured southern hemisphere players being signed. At least he is young enough to learn the game, rather than taking 29/30 year olds from League. I wish him best of luck.
Posted 13:08 22nd July 2010
R Johnson says...
Come on, hes only a fringe player who has not made the grade,.
Posted 16:08 21st July 2010
Chris Horton says...
It's a shame to lose Thornley, I've no doubts he'd have broken into the first team next year. He was the hottest young centre at the club and I'm gutted he's going. Still, we've got other extremely talented youths and we can live without him in the future.
Posted 15:09 21st July 2010
Bruce Wilson says...
Stop moaning - perhps you'll get him back when he's been taught how to tackle properly i.e. 1 on 1, not 3 or 4 on 1!!!!
Posted 13:49 21st July 2010
Steven Taylor says...
So Lenegen is irritated by this loss to Union. Perhaps if Thornley had been playing in the first team instead of the expensive Australian imports, he woud nt have gone. Will we ever learn and ban overseas players.
Posted 12:52 21st July 2010
Mike Tucker says...
This just seems an indication of the state of the game of rugby union in the northern england. This guy hasn't made a single first team appearance for wigan but they offered him the wage of a 24 years old experienced player. Wigan have a salary cap and wage structure to stick to and until someone proves themselves at the top first team level they can be given a contract to reflect that situation. Luckly wigan have numerous young players in pretty much all positions coming through at the moment, the coaches though thornley was not yet ready for the first team and others got their chances instead.
Posted 12:37 21st July 2010
Chris Holme says...
Once again union shows it can't develop it's own quality backs and has to raid the league ranks. The shame is he will be wasted in union, put on loads of weight and end up back in league. Put this signing down to Mick hogan.
Posted 10:54 21st July 2010
Roy Munston says...
Do rugby union not produce there own talent anymore? Martin Johnson and the rest of the union big wigs are getting desperate now. He will probabley be fast tracked into the international setup, as the current England backline is a laughing stock.
Posted 10:45 21st July 2010