Ospreys duo Dan Baker and Rory Thornton sign National Dual Contracts

Welsh rugby now has 16 players signed on National Dual Contracts after Ospreys duo Dan Baker and Rory Thornton put pen to paper.

Back-row forward Baker, 23, has made three appearances for Wales, while lock Thornton, 20, who captains Wales U20s, becomes the first uncapped player on the list.

They have both signed three-year contracts and there are now 10 forwards and six backs on the NDC list.

Deals were announced for Ospreys forwards Scott Baldwin and James King on Thursday and they join Sam Warburton, Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb, Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Scott Williams, Jake Ball, Samson Lee, Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan and Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons) as NDC players.

Chief executive Martyn Phillips told the WRU's official website: "NDCs are a way of ensuring access to a core group of players in a way that is mutually beneficial to both the regions and the national side and also to the individual players themselves.

"I would like to welcome both Dan and Rory on board but also commend the vision of all 16 players in taking up the NDC offer."

Ospreys general manager Andrew Millward said: "In Dan and Rory we have two young men who have started to make an impression regionally and in the national environment.

"While they both still have a long way to go and a lot of hard work in front of them if they are to reach their full potential, they can now focus on achieving that while knowing they have the full support of both the Ospreys and the WRU."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "Both Dan and Rory are players of significant potential, we look forward to continuing to work with them at national squad headquarters, but also to watching them continue to flourish for the Ospreys."