Read more: Gavin Henson: Career timeline and pictures
London Welsh?have confirmed the signing of?Wales international Gavin Henson.
The move reunites 30-year-old Henson with former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones, under who he won two Celtic League titles (2005 and 2007) during their five-year spell together at the Ospreys between 2003 and 2008.
The Exiles, however, have refused to confirm the length of Henson's deal.
It comes months after Henson was sacked from his short-term contract by?Cardiff Blues in?April?following drink-fuelled misbehaviour on a team flight.
That incident?marked a sorry end to the former Lion's latest comeback following years of underachievement on the rugby field.
After taking an 18-month break from the game, the centre signed for Saracens in October 2010 but played just three times for the club before moving to French big-spenders?Toulon.
His spell in France was also brief following a bust-up with team-mates and he was released from his contract in May 2011 after just four months.
Henson has talked of his desire to break back into the Wales squad after slipping way down the pecking order in recent seasons. He missed out on a chance to go to the World Cup last year after fracturing his wrist in a warm-up match against England, and although he was included in the Six Nations squad earlier this year, he did not figure in a single match.
As well as head coach Jones, Henson will also link up again at London Welsh with former Ospreys and Wales centre partner Sonny Parker, who joined the Exiles in April, and former Ospreys full-back Barry Davies, who is also expected to?sign.
-
Brynteg Comp pupil Gavin was earmarked as a star at under 16 level.
-
Henson playing for Swansea in the days before regional rugby
-
Henson's greatest moment? THAT kick against England in 2005
-
Followed by THAT tackle in the same match that set Wales on the road to Grand Slam glory
-
Henson celebrates the Grand Slam in '05
-
Henson with former fiance Charlotte Church who he later split from
-
Henson was selected for the 2005 Lions but courted controversy after being overlooked for selection by Clive Woodward
-
Henson was back to his best in 2008 as he helped Wales win another Slam under Warren Gatland
-
In 2009, a dejected Henson told Ospreys chief Mike Cuddy he needed time away from the game after a series of injuries and the break-up of his relationship with Church
-
That break saw Henson begin his reality TV career as he appeared on ITV show 71 Degrees North
-
That was followed by an appearance on hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing
-
And Henson wasn't finished there as he next showed up on Channel Five show The Bachelor
-
Prior to the World Cup, Henson began his comeback after stints at Saracens and Toulon. He played against England in a World Cup warm-up but suffered a fractured wrist after just half-hour
-
The Blues gave him a route back into Welsh rugby with a one season deal in the summer
-
But trouble wasn't too far away as Henson struggled to make an impact before the latest "incident"
London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones said. ?Gavin has a great talent but over the past three or four seasons he has not realised his full potential for a number of reasons that are well documented.
?I sincerely hope and believe he can now draw a line under that period and move forward again with London Welsh.
?What?s important for Gavin is that he concentrates 100 per cent on his game and learning how to become the best he can possibly be again. I think he can add a great deal to our game and we can also do a lot for him.
?We all appreciate the skills that he can bring to a game but what teammates and coaches will be looking for is consistency of that ability. That?s the challenge for Gavin, to hold his concentration fully on rugby as he did when he started his career, when rugby was first, second and third on his list of priorities.?
London Welsh managing director John Taylor added. ?We are obviously delighted to have been able to sign a player of Gavin?s pedigree.
?He is the first to admit things have gone a little haywire over the last few years but he has impressed on me that he still feels he has a lot to prove as a rugby player and is determined to ensure he is not remembered as somebody who never fulfilled his great potential.
?I am confident he will fit in well here and it is obvious he cannot wait to get back to what he does best - playing rugby.?
Henson made his international debut in 2001 on Wales? Tour of Japan and famously kicked the winning penalty in Wales? 2005 win over England at the Millennium Stadium - Wales? first victory over England in Cardiff for 12 years. It set them on the road to a first Grand Slam since 1978.
Henson played in all five matches of Wales? 2005 Grand Slam triumph, adding a drop goal in the decisive win over Ireland at the Millennium Stadium. He was duly selected for Lions? 2005 Tour of New Zealand and started the second Test in Auckland.
In 2008 Henson would again feature in all five matches as Wales secured a second Grand Slam in three years.
Henson began his career with Swansea RFC before joining the Ospreys in 2003 with the launch of regional rugby in Wales.
'); tm.siteLife.daapi.getArticle( "54-91466-31356625", function(article){ tm.siteLife.display.displayCommentCount( article, 'sitelife-commentsWidget-middle', false, 'Comments', true, false ); } ); })();//call anonymous function //]]>csco big bend national park leon russell meredith vieira prop 8 larry bird maria menounos
No comments:
Post a Comment