He was in the All Black team for the 2003 World Cup but four years later was playing rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos.
He wants another crack in 2011.
"The 2003 World Cup was one of the highlights of my career," Thorn said.
"It would be great to go to another one."
Thorn, who was born in Mosgiel, has had a long rugby life in league with the Brisbane Broncos and in union with the Crusaders and the All Blacks.
He just keeps getting better and adds to his skills each year.
He has thrived on the hard work and the challenges.
"It has been stimulating for me," he said.
"They say that as long as you keep learning, even to old age, it helps you to keep going."
In his early days with the Brisbane Broncos, Thorn used to be a binge drinker and used to feel quite sore after games.
He kept off alcohol for six years from 2001 and is now a reformed moderate drinker.
"I'm careful about my recovery after games, do the little things like stretching and weight training, and don't feel too bad after a game at all now," Thorn said.
"It was not just my rugby that made me change. It was my personal life as well. It was just something I had to take care of.
"It's not just helped my rugby. It's the whole package. The discipline I use in rugby comes through in all the different areas of my life. I have become a happy rugby player on and off the field."
Thorn, a dedicated Christian, uses his faith to play better rugby on the paddock. But he said he was not a salesman going around to grab people and tell them about his faith.
"It is what my life has been built on and it's great for me. But I'm not going to shove it down people's throats. Hopefully, my actions speak and my words back up what I believe.
"Sometimes, I let myself down with my over-aggression and it happened last year with John Smit. I quickly went over to him and apologised. We all make mistakes."
Mosgiel-born Thorn was "gutted" when he was suspended last year for a dangerous throw of Springboks captain Smit.
The one-week ban forced him to miss the loss to the Springboks at Carisbrook, a match which had attracted old friends and relatives to the ground.
"Its is personal for me, coming back to Carisbrook. I was gutted last year when I missed the game," he said.
"It will be very special for me [tonight]."
Thorn always finds the first week of an All Black campaign challenging.
"The first week's always interesting, with a number of different combinations coming together, with different styles from different clubs," Thorn said.
He said preparing for a test match was different from playing in Super 14 for the Crusaders.
"We've got just one week to prepare for a test but in a franchise we've got a whole pre-season to prepare," he said.
"Its more a mental attitude. As a tight five we need to make sure we do our job for the team to play well."
Thorn went back to the Brisbane Broncos after being part of the All Black team at the 2003 World Cup in Australia and came back to rugby only last year.
"It's great to be back. I've thoroughly enjoyed myself," Thorn said.
"My family love living in New Zealand and the rugby has been a lot of fun. It's great to be paid for doing something I love."
Brad Thorn
Second-row warrior
Age: 34
Position: Lock
Physical: 1.95m, 113kg
Test career: Debut v Wales, 2003, 24 caps
All Black number: 1035
Super 14: Crusaders (66 games)
