 A Randwick DRUFC forward, in his two senior seasons in rugby union in 1961 and 1962 Thornett made eleven national representative Tests appearances for the Wallabies.On the Wallabies 1961 tour of South Africa Thornett was in the squad with his brother John Thornett and they played Test matches together.Dick left the amateur code after two years to join his brother Ken Thornett at the Parramatta Eels.