FORWARDS Dan Baker and Rory Thornton have signed national dual contracts, taking the Ospreys' tally to eight.

Number eight Baker, 23, has won three caps but missed the cut for the World Cup while lock Thornton, 20, captained his country at the World Rugby U20 Championship and joined Warren Gatland's squad on their summer training camp.

"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," said the Wales head coach.

The Liberty Stadium side also have scrum-half Rhys Webb, fly-half Dan Biggar, lock Alun Wyn Jones, flankers Dan Lydiate and James King and hooker Scott Baldwin on dual deals.

The total of players on NDCs now stands at 16 with Newport Gwent Dragons having two players in wing Hallam Amos and centre Tyler Morgan.

Props Rhodri Jones and Samson Lee, lock Jake Ball and centre Scott Williams make up the four-strong Scarlets contingent while Cardiff Blues have flanker Sam Warburton and fly-half/full-back Gareth Anscombe.

It is rumoured that centre Jonathan Davies and full-back Leigh Halfpenny, currently playing at Clermont and Toulon respectively, could return on NDCs in the summer.