Thorne to stay for three more years

Reuben Thorne

Reuben Thorne proved the exception to the rule of experienced players heading overseas after committing to Canterbury and New Zealand yesterday for three more years.

Thorne, 30, knows that the chances of a lucrative European move are effectively nil when he comes off contract again in 2008.

Several overseas clubs came calling with attractive deals for the versatile loose forward, who last played for the All Blacks on their end-of-year European tour last year.