2. Grahame Thorne
Thorne, who won 10 caps for the All Blacks between 1967 and 1960, was adopted at birth in an adoption privately arranged by his grandfather. He described learning of his adoption at age 21 as “a devastating experience.”
Thorne’s family life was beset by tragedy. His son David had a spinal injury and stroke following a hard rugby tackle in a club rugby game in Nelson in 2006, and underwent long recuperation at Burwood Hospital. The care of his son distracted Thorne from his local government duties and he was criticised for refusing to resign.
Another son, Bruce, died when his four-wheel drive vehicle overturned near Bloemfontein in South Africa in December 2009.