The Welsh Rugby Union should sack Gavin Henson

I've really had enough of Gavin Henson.

I've blogged time after time after time on this site of my views on his commitment, or lack of it, to the Welsh rugby jersey through his various entertainment contracts but the news this week really takes the biscuit.

Having in my mind, acted as a petulant child in his dealings with his former clubs the Ospreys and Saracens, he then showed an unprofessional side to his nature that saw Toulon terminate his French contract - all this within the space of 12 months.

He's complained that he hasn't been given a chance over the last few years to pull on the proud red jersey of Wales but in my mind, he hasn't deserved it. If his priority is to go onto Strictly Come Dancing, then good luck to him. Let him carve out a new career in entertainment and see how far that gets him. But he shouldn't think that just because he's got a wonderful natural talent and flair that he can walk straight into the Welsh dressing room ahead of other players who have shown commitment and dedication to the cause and who really know the full meaning of wearing that famous red rugby shirt.

Only a few weeks ago, he was given the opportunity to play for Wales again against the Barbarians. His was a mediocre performance and far from what we came to expect from him when he was in his prime. He was basically rusty and who can be surprised when he has had so little first match action in recent times? This lack of match practise is entirely his own doing. If he can not give 110% to his team, be it the Ospreys, Saracens or Toulon, then how in the hell should he expect to waltz back into the Welsh squad?

Henson could take an honorary degree in hubris his head must be so far up in the clouds.

Indeed, former Welsh captain Michael Owen, called the decision to select him again "embarrassing".

He said here: "It's a privilege to play for your national team. I think you've really got to earn that privilege and I just question whether Gavin has earned it in this instance".

"Warren Gatland and the coaches at Wales obviously rate Gavin very highly as a player. He's done some fantastic things throughout his career. But for me it sends the wrong message to the players in Wales who are striving, day in day out, week in week out, to try and get better and try and perform to get the opportunity to play for their country".

Too damned right Michael.

It didn't help that when lined up in readiness for the match against the Barbarians, whilst virtually the entire Welsh squad could visibly be seen singing the Welsh national anthem 'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau', one of the few that weren't, was Henson. Does he not know the words? Does he not care to learn the words?

I'm sorry, but Welsh rugby union is the heart and soul of Welsh sport. The passion that comes from playing for Wales must be evident. Seeing the boys sing that anthem with pride is a sure sign of their commitment for the task ahead. If Henson can't be bothered to learn a few lines, then why I should I watch him play for my country?

The Bachelor

Now, it gets worse! This  BBC website article informs us that Henson is now to take the lead in a new TV dating show where he hopes to meet "the right girl". He will be 'The Bachelor' in a UK version of the hit US programme. Channel 5 said viewers should "expect flirting, bitching and heartfelt emotion" as 25 contestants compete to win his heart.

Well Channel 5, I don't know about flirting but I'll give you bitching and heartfelt emotion for free and by the bucketload.

If Henson wants to continue to posture like this, then so be it. But the WRU should have no hesitation in removing him from the preliminary World Cup squad for which he has been unbelievably selected.

The WRU say that "Gavin is fulfilling a work commitment which was in place before he was selected for national squad duty and doing so in the full knowledge of the Wales management team".

Well if that's the case, the WRU were bloody foolish to choose him in the first place if they knew of these commitments.

Until he really commits himself 110% to playing rugby, he should be nowhere near the Welsh team sheet and he should certainly not be anywhere near the preliminary World Cup squad - such places should only be reserved for those who actually show the passion, enthusiasm and commitment to play for Wales and who have that aim as their No.1 priority.

If Gavin Henson wants to go and play games, then the WRU should let him do so. He can then get on with his life and let the Welsh rugby boys get on with theirs.

The Nail in Gavin Henson's World Cup Ambition

I'm sounding like a broken record here I know, but what the hell is Gavin Henson doing?

Reports from France today point towards his possible sacking by his new club Toulon, having only played 2 games for the fashionable French club since his sudden move from Saracens back in February.

Gavin Henson on his Toulon Debut

I wrote here about Gavin Henson's problems before launching an additional tirade against him here when he dropped Saracens for Toulon after only 3 months and 4 appearances at the club.

Now, it would seem that having made only 2 appearances for Toulon, he is on the verge of being shown the door after a late-night skirimish with his own team-mates in a club after a match win against Toulouse. He was suspended following the incident.

The uber-latest news is that the WRU have summoned the Centre to a meeting to discuss his situation with Chief Executive Roger Lewis and Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.

Whatever the up-shot of this discussion, it's clear that Henson's head is not in the right place. The question of whether he should be chosen for the World Cup squad is a dud one because if he isn't playing rugby for his club sides, then there's no way that he should be chosen for the squad - no matter how big a name he is.

It's a shame because he hasn't made the most of his potential and is wasting a prodigious talent. But then that's his problem more than it is Wales'. There are plenty of aspiring, hard-working Welsh rugby players who would give their right arm for an opportunity to play for a big-name club and their country.

Until Henson sorts himself out, he should be nowhere near the selection sheet for the Welsh squad. The great shame is that I can't see when in the near future this situation may change for the positive.

A wasted talent. Wasted.

What is Gavin Henson's Problem? Answers on a Postcard Please

Only last month I wrote here about my exasperation at the Welsh enigma that is Gavin Henson.

At the time I was hoping that Warren Gatland would reject calls to name him in Wales' 6 Nations Squad. As it happens, days after I wrote that blog post, he was injured and was automatically ruled out of the tournament so the decision didn't have to be taken.



Henson signed for Saracens on October 28th - he left
them yesterday on February 2nd. Where's the respect?



But his decision today to move to the fashionable southern French club of Toulon, after barely 3 months and just 4 appearances (only one of which was a start) for Saracens after his controversial move to London from the Ospreys just beggars belief.

Yet, I was under the impression that he was dedicated to his family and that his move to London was made so that he could be closer to his children. Am I missing something?

Clearly I am because unless Charlotte Church has moved to France away from the gaze of the roaming paparazzi then the only recognisable British face that Henson will find on his arrival will be that of Jonny Wilkinson.

There is so much to question when it comes to Gavin Henson. To me, all he wants is the glamour and the attention. The showboating has no place in the Welsh national team and unless he changes his ways which I very much doubt, then I don't how how he could fit back into a future Welsh squad.

As we face England in the opening encounter tomorrow, I know one thing for sure. We have a better chance of winning without Gavin Henson.

In which case, I suppose Saracens should breathe a sigh of relief.

How do you solve a problem like Gavin Henson?

A friend of mine commented to me last week that whilst I've been writing a good amount around my love of various sports, I haven't yet touched upon rugby. He was quite right and that is certainly an oversight on my part.

So on reading today's Western Mail, I found myself compelled to give my thoughts on the enigma that is Gavin Henson.

'That Kick'

He shot to prominence of course with that incredible penalty winning kick that gave Wales our first victory over the English in 6 years and propelled us towards our first Grand Slam in a generation back in 2005. I remember it well - my University friends and I were sitting in the back of Yr Hen Llew Ddu in Aberystwyth with my friend Chris saying as the penalty was awarded that we should kick for a line-out as it was too far from the posts for Stephen Jones to kick it. I and a number of the boys reminded him in no uncertain terms that young Henson had the capacity to kick the ball some distance and that we should take the chance of scoring the points. The rest of course is history.

He's gone on to be a member of 2 Grand Slam winning Welsh teams after the heroics of 2005 were wonderfully repeated in true Welsh style in 2008. He hasn't however appeared in a World Cup and despite his undoubted talent, he's had a propensity to be his own worst enemy and has driven many of his own countryfolk to rile against him.

Henson the Celebrity

His marriage to Charlotte Church, his tan and good looks were always going to put him on the front pages as much as they were the back, but the feeling is that he has squandered a prodigous sporting talent along the way.

His bust-up with the Ospreys has been incredulous. After a 21 month period out of the game, he turned his back on the Welsh region that had stood by him in what can only be described as a fit of pique as he decided to put space between himself and his estranged wife.

During his absence from the field he made the ill-judged decision to accept a daft offer from the WRU to be their 'poster-boy' in helping to launch the new Welsh rugby kit last September. This not unreasonably did not go down well with his Welsh team-mates who saw a struggling colleague taking the limelight from those who were grafting on the pitch for their country on  a more regular and consistent basis. This will only have added to the changing room hostility that more senior members will recall after revelations he made in his 2005 book chronicling his first Grand Slam year.

Strictly Losing the Plot
His high profile appearances on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing at the end of last year put him back in the media spotlight at the same time that he brought to a fraught end his relationship with the Ospreys as he made a move across the border and to the capital to join Saracens.

He did well to reach the semi-finals of the dancing competition at a time when Welsh rugby fans and many in the rugby world questioned his priorities.

Well, he's now made matters worse this week with another media gaffe by stating in an interview with BBC sports editor Mihir Bose on the one hand his concern that he won't make the Welsh squad for the Six Nations Championship this spring and then on the other exclaiming how his Strictly exploits gave him a greater feeling than winning a Grand Slam with his country.

He said: "To get a standing ovation and to get to the semi-finals was a great feeling. It tops any rugby moment, even winning the Six Nations".

Yet, having made only one start for Saracens since his move, he admits that he's concerned that he's not getting enough pitch time to give himself a chance of making the Six Nations squad. He knows that if he is to make an appearance in his first World Cup this autumn then a place in the Six Nations really is imperative.

He stated: "I need to be starting for Saracens to be in the Wales squad".

Well where exactly do your priorities lie Gavin? If winning the Grand Slam for Wales strikes him as being a lesser achievement than competing in a vanity competition on TV, then shouldn't Wales boss Warren Gatland concentrate on choosing the players who truly understand and respect the importance that comes with pulling on that red jersey?

Former Welsh players Bobby Windsor, Mervyn Davies and Gareth Edwards have all hit back with their surprise and anger at these comments and who can blame them? AsWindsor said: "You have got to have boys in there giving 100%. There is no 'i' in team and the trouble with him him is that he is the 'i' ".

Stop Talking and Start Playing
Henson has got to stop playing himself off as the victim. He talks himself into trouble and he angers and frustrates a rugby mad nation with every word. His comments this week will only have added to the fire.

Henson divides the country like few others in his chosen field. Yes, he's a skilled and talented player who, on top form should play a part in the coming tournament and in the World Cup later this autumn. Yet, his very presence in the changing room could stir up more discontent and trouble than it's worth.

Should Gatland choose him for the squad which opens it's campaign against England next month? On current form, no.

But the question must be asked, should he be considered to wear the jersey at all? Henson himself talks a good case for the negative.

How do you solve a problem like Gavin Henson?