Owen Williams: Injured Cardiff Blue moved to Rookwood Hospital

Owen Williams in action for Cardiff Blues against Bath

Owen Williams has been transferred from University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to Rookwood Hospital in the same city.

The Cardiff Blues centre suffered a "significant injury" to his cervical vertebrae and spinal cord at a tournament in Singapore in June.

After undergoing initial treatment at a Singapore hospital, Williams was transferred by air ambulance to Wales.

The 22-year-old will now receive treatment at Rookwood's specialist spinal rehabilitation unit.

A Cardiff Blues statement read: "Owen was safely moved to the Welsh Spinal Injuries and Neurological Rehabilitation Unit at the hospital in Llandaff this week to continue his long-term recovery.

"Cardiff Blues and the Williams family would like to thank staff at University Hospital Wales who had been caring for Owen since his return from Singapore.

"Messages of support from the rugby community and wider world continue to be a huge source of inspiration for Owen, his family and friends at this time.

"Cardiff Blues would like to thank the media for the privacy they have shown Owen Williams and his family over the last two and a half weeks and ask that this continues to be respected."

Social media has been flooded with messages of support for Williams, with well-wishers using the hashtag #StayStrongForOws.

Four-times capped Williams was injured in the first half of the Blues' 26-17 defeat to Asia Pacific Dragons in the third-place play-off of the World Club 10s in Singapore.

Williams came through the Blues academy system after being spotted playing for Neath College.

He signed for the senior side in 2010, but only made nine Blues appearances last season because of a hamstring problem.

The former Aberdare RFC player was capped by Wales at under-16 and under-20 level and made his senior debut against Japan in June 2013.