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Former Wales U20 captain Thornton reveals why he's leaving Ospreys for regional rivals

By Online Editors
Rory Thornton

Rory Thornton is leaving the Ospreys to join regional rivals Cardiff Blues on a year-long loan deal.

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He is the third addition to the Blues squad in recent days, following the signings of Dmitri Arhip, also from the Ospreys and Jason Harries from Edinburgh.

The 23-year old second row, who signed a new deal with the Ospreys earlier this year, will link up with his new teammates next week.

Thornton saw his game time limited last season, injury restricting him to just four appearances, and following discussions between both regions and national team management, it was agreed that the former Wales Under-20’s captain will make the temporary move up the M4 to allow him the best opportunity to get more game-time and to assist his international ambitions going into a Rugby World Cup year.

“I need to be playing rugby and Cardiff need a lineout forward so this is a great outcome for everyone. It’s a good move for me in the circumstances and I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the squad next week and preparing for an important season”, Thornton said

“I’m grateful to the Ospreys for supporting me like this and also to Cardiff Blues for giving me the opportunity.”

Thornton reported to Cardiff Blues training base on Friday for testing ahead of the official start of pre-season on Monday.

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Cardiff Blues Head Coach, John Mulvihill, was glad to seal the deal.

“It’s great to welcome a player of Rory’s calibre to the Cardiff Blues.I have met him a few times now and I’ve been impressed with his desire to play international rugby again. He will get his opportunity to do this playing at the Cardiff Blues”, the Australian said.

“The support and cooperation by the WRU, Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys shows Welsh rugby is heading down a path where their best players will get the opportunity to play every week at the highest level. This collective mindset will ensure strength and depth at a national level going forward.

“From a Cardiff Blues perspective, it is important that we have strength in depth in the position and Rory is exactly the right type of lock to add to what we already have.”

Allen Clarke, Ospreys Head Coach, said:

“The decision to allow Rory to go to Cardiff Blues on loan has been made in his best interests, with international ambitions in mind.

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“A talented young rugby player like Rory will benefit from playing regular rugby, he has ambitions of going to the World Cup, and second row is a position where we have a number of options available. I want him to go to Cardiff and shine, knowing that we will welcome him back next year.

“It’s important for Welsh rugby that we work collectively to ensure the best outcome for individual players, regions and national team alike”

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Adrian 39 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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