Peter Robert Tyler Thorburn (19 March 1939 – 26 January 2021) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach. He played his entire career as a number eight for from 1965 to 1970. He became a coach after his playing career ended, coaching domestically at first for North Harbour and the New Zealand national rugby sevens team. He later coached in England with Bristol Rugby from 2001 to 2003, before becoming interim head coach of the United States national rugby union team and guiding the side to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was also a selector for the All Blacks. Early life and playing career Thorburn was born in Auckland on 19 March 1939 to Francis Thorburn and Frances Burk. He completed his primary education at Papakura, Patea, and Gladstone primary schools, before attending Mount Albert Grammar School. He subsequently completed a pharmacy apprenticeship from 1956 to 1959. Thorburn made his debut for in 1965. He ended up making 40 appearances with the team before playing his final game with them in 1970. Coaching career After retiring as a player, Thorburn became coach of the North Harbour rugby team. He served in this capacity from the founding of the union in 1985 until 1991. He later identified the team's promotion to Division One of the National Provincial Championship in only its third season as the highlight of his career. He concurrently served as coach for the New Zealand national rugby sevens team from 1988 to 1990. He briefly rejoined the sevens team in 1993, until Gordon Tietjens became coach the following year. Thorburn's first stint as a selector for the New Zealand national rugby union team came in 1992. He served alongside Earle Kirton under coach Laurie Mains until 1994, when he was replaced by Lin Colling. Three years later, he became coach of North Harbour again for the 1997 season. His second spell as selector with the All Blacks came in 2000 until 2001, this time with Wayne Smith as coach. Thorburn dismissed concerns that his previous tenure as a rugby commentator would impact his work as a selector, maintaining that he "may have criticised a particular performance but that's as far as I've gone". He added that he would never publicly criticise players because they do not have "the right of reply". Thorburn became Director of Rugby at English club Bristol Rugby during the second half