Thorn named Reds assistant coach
New Zealand-born Thorn, 41, who played Rugby League for Australia before switching to Rugby Union and playing 59 internationals for New Zealand, coached Queensland to victory in the inaugural Super Under-20s championship this year.
He hung up his boots after a final club season with Leicester last year to become the Queensland Rugby Union's Elite Development Squad forwards coach.
"Brad's achievements in sport speak for themselves and the plan was always for Brad to play a role in coaching the Reds after he'd experienced a few months in the coaching environment with our U20s," Reds General Manager Daniel Herbert said.
"He has taken to coaching well and his work with the Queensland U20s forward pack was noticeable throughout their undefeated run in the Super U20s Championship."
Thorn said: "I've really enjoyed the ability to have a virtual apprenticeship with the Under-20s and now feel I can use my experience to assist this Reds program."
Meanwhile, the Reds have signed Broncos forward Caleb Timu through to the end of 2017.
The 22-year-old will join the Reds for training at Ballymore immediately, after seeking an early release from his contract with the National Rugby League club.
He has signed as a loose forward, a position he is familiar with after playing there as a student at St. Joseph's Nudgee College and for the Queensland and Australian Schoolboys Rugby sides in 2011. The Australian Schoolboys side in 2011 also featured Timu's new Reds teammates Jake McIntyre, Curtis Browning and Pettowa Paraka.
Although from a rugby background, Timu signed with the Broncos after high school, where he played for their U20s side. He left league in 2014 to undertake a two-year Mormon mission in the South Pacific, returning to the club in late 2015.
Herbert said: “We're pleased to be able to welcome Caleb [Timu] back to rugby and to the Reds.
"He is a dynamic footballer and someone we've tracked since his high school days. We expect he will offer a lot to our side over the next two years, as we continue to build our program. Caleb will spend the next two weeks working intensively with Brad Thorn to refamiliarise himself with rugby and will train with the Reds main squad on their return from the African tour."
The majority of the Reds squad is currently in South Africa preparing for its match against the Bulls in Pretoria, but Timu will join his remaining teammates at Ballymore this week to train with coaches Jason Gilmore and Thorn.
Timu said: "I am pleased to be returning to Rugby and joining the Reds. I know some of the players from schoolboy rugby and am looking forward to joining the team. I'm grateful to the Broncos for their understanding and their support of my rugby ambitions."