Williams recovering after neck op

Owen Williams has returned home to Wales after suffering a serious neck injury during a rugby tournament in Singapore.

The Cardiff Blues and Wales international centre was hurt while playing in the inaugural World Club 10s competition eight days ago.

Williams, 22, underwent surgery the following day and was joined in Singapore by his parents and his brother.

In a statement, the Blues said: " Owen was safely transferred by air ambulance from Singapore over the weekend and is currently being assessed and monitored by specialists at University Hospital Wales.

" Cardiff Blues and the Williams family would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all the staff and specialists at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore for their care and support for Owen following his injury.

" Owen and his family would also like to thank well-wishers for the overwhelming messages of support they continue to receive on a daily basis from around the rugby world.

" Cardiff Blues will continue to share any appropriate updates when available, and again requests that the privacy of Owen Williams and his family is respected at this time."

In a statement issued last week, the Blues said that Williams had suffered " a significant injury to his cervical vertebrae and spinal cord".

He was injured while playing for the Blues in a third place play-off game against Asia Pacific Dragons.

Williams has won four caps for Wales, making his debut on last summer's tour of Japan, while he scored a try in the 17-7 Millennium Stadium victory over Tonga last November.