Gary Thornton


Gary Thornton is an English rugby league coach, and currently head coach of Rochdale Hornets. He has previously coached at Hunslet RLFC and Castleford Tigers U20s academy side from 2009 to 2012.
in September 2022, he was announced as head-coach of Rochdale Hornets.
He was inducted into the Batley Bulldogs Hall of Fame in November 2025 having a 16 year association with the club as player, assistant coach and Head Coach.

Playing career

As a player, he spent 4 seasons at Wakefield Trinity before joining Batley in 1990, after initially having a loan spell at 'The Mount' in the 1988–89 season. He went on to make 215 appearances for the club scoring 79 tries.

Coaching career

Gary spent five and a half years as head coach at Batley from October 2003-April 2009, and also spent time as U21s coach at Wakefield Trinity.
Gary was Head Coach at York between 2012 and 2014, and Doncaster R.L.F.C. from June 2015 to May 2017.
Has won the coach of the year award in respective Championship divisions: