A product of the small Western Cape town of Hermanus, Bradley Thain first enjoyed a provincial call-up at the U13 Craven Week of 2010, turning out in the colours of the Boland Kavaliers. Never one to shirk competition, the nuggety halfback decided to attend the prestigious Paarl Boys High School; one of the leading rugby institutions in the world, and renowned for its extremely competitive fight for ‘A’ team places. Bradley thrived in the intensity of ‘Booishaai’, further refining his instinctual feel for the game and developing his conditioning. Strength in contact became a defining feature of Thain’s arsenal, and when he wasn’t snipping past tight forwards, he was physically dominating them around the fringes.

Stellar displays for Western Province at the U18 Academy Week saw Bradley catch the eye of the Golden Lions, and he ability to kick off both his left & right foot were integral to the union’s successes in the U19 & U21 Currie Cup competitions. His sleek service from the base was a defining feature in the Varsity Cup campaign of the University of Johannesburg, and it came as no surprise when a 20-year-old Thain enjoyed a senior professional debut in the 2017 Supersport Rugby Challenge. A maiden Currie Cup start followed later that year, where Thain dictated play with ball in hand, and educated kicks deep into opposition territory.