Thorn (38), the former All Black, Kangaroo and current Highlanders lock, will be lining up for Taieri when it takes on Kaikorai at Peter Johnstone Park in a premier club match on Saturday.
Thorn was born in Mosgiel and spent his first years in the Taieri area. He watched his brother and relatives play for the Taieri club before he moved with his family to Bannockburn, in Central Otago, when he was about 5.
He lived in Bannockburn for a few years, where he played his first organised game of rugby, before moving to Australia with his family. The rest is sporting history as he went on to play more than 450 games in both league and union at club, state, provincial and international level.
Thorn had been in Japan for the past couple of seasons but decided to play for the Highlanders this year. He said part of the reason for playing for the Highlanders was to come back to where his sporting career began.
The Taieri club will also be auctioning off Thorn's 50th test jersey on Saturday night.
Thorn played his 50th test against Wales in Cardiff in 2010.
Saturday's match between Taieri and Kaikorai is shaping up as a key one for both sides.
Taieri is still top of the table but has lost its past two matches, while Kaikorai has put together a strong run of results and is now in the top four.
