Rory Thornton: Ospreys and Wales lock suffers shoulder injury

Rory Thornton is a former Wales Under-20s captain

Ospreys and Wales lock Rory Thornton has suffered a dislocated shoulder and could miss the rest of the season.

Thornton's start to the 2017-18 season was delayed by a similar injury and his latest blow came in their Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat at Cardiff Blues.

The 22-year-old made his Wales debut in their summer tour win against Samoa.

Ospreys' Wales under-20 centres Kieran Williams (dislocated ankle) and Tom Williams (broken arm) could also miss the rest of the season.

Tom Williams has undergone surgery on a compound fracture, while Kieran Williams and Thornton will see specialists in the coming days.

"If you look at those three, along with Keelan Giles (knee surgery) and Dan Baker (knee ligament injury), we have been hit", said forwards coach Allen Clarke.

"It's making sure those boys feel very much part of the group, that we connect with them as people. We've got a tremendous rehab team here so we'll try to bring those boys back bigger, faster and stronger."

Beck back - again

The injuries to the two Williamses will mean more work-load for senior centres such as Ashley Beck, who has been plagued by injuries since the last of his seven caps in 2013.

Beck, 27, has made two appearances this season after shoulder surgery.

"I feel a lot better and I'm training a lot more than previous years", said Beck.

"I'd love to challenge for a Wales spot but my biggest focus is the Ospreys and I haven't been back long enough to start saying that I should be playing for Wales.

"If I can get regular rugby with the Ospreys, starting and playing as well as I can, I'd love to be able to put the red jersey on again."

Ospreys, bottom of Conference A, host leaders Glasgow in the Pro14 on Sunday, 26 November.