Henson finished?

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ColinM
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Henson finished?

Post by ColinM »

Wales and British and Irish Lion Gavin Henson is on unpaid, indefinite leave from the Ospreys, BBC Sport Wales understands.

The news casts further doubt on Henson's playing future following a summer of repeated reports and denials that he is close to retiring.

Reports that Henson's recurring injury problems had prompted him to seriously consider quitting surfaced in July.

The Ospreys have yet to comment on this latest twist in Henson's career.

His lack of match fitness saw him overlooked for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa, having been selected four years earlier for the series in New Zealand.
Henson's latest injury - an ankle problem - flared up during his side's EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat by Gloucester in March.

He has not played since and Ospreys bosses Andrew Hore and Scott Johnson have stated they would give the 27-year-old as much time as he needed to recover from his injury problems
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by Mad Dod »

Despite him being an absolute banker, it would be a waste of undoubtable talent if he does retire. Had his attitude been better, I'm sure he could have been one of the top players in world rugby.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by WhiteKnightoftheWeld »

dont think attitude was ever the issue with him

he picked up a lot of injuries which meant that from playing in 2005 grand slam team he didnt play in 6Ns again until 2008 grand slam winning team.

there's been a lot of press about off field incidents - but these basically boil down to a few drunken incidents where his ego got the better of him. he has an ego and being mr. charlotte church, and being the founder member of the rugby-players-manicured-waxed-and-faked-tanned club doesnt help his reputation, but he's certainly not the first rugby player to look in the mirror a bit too much, and he's certainly not the first to get in the occasional bar brawl. austin healy beat him to it on bouth counts!

from a rugby viewpoint, i dont think he ever drunk about, or wasted his talent. had anyone but woodward been lions coach in 2005 he could very well have played a massive role there. he was an integral cog in 2 welsh grand slam successes. his injury problems werent caused by too much st. tropez. if he does retire and call it a day, it'll be frustration at the injuries - there was an interview published with him a few months ago where he admitted he was very disillusioned with getting injured, going through rehab, getting injured, going through rehab, gett......

personally, IMO it would be rugby's loss if he were to quit. i read between the lines here that he is taking a bit of time away from the sport to decide if he really wants to keep on playing. i reckon he'll realise what he's missing and will be back - either with a welsh region or the other rumour is a new challenge for him playing for celtic crusaders - apparently he goes to their home matches whenever he can.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by semi mental »

lyn jones is quoted on the beeb saying "rugby needs him".

pile of tosh, wouldnt even start for wales at present. i find it hard to sympathise with him. it must be frustrating to be regularly injured, but i never heard wilkinson complain in his 4 years (give or take) out.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by WhiteKnightoftheWeld »

because you dont agree with something doesnt make it a "pile of tosh"

even if he isnt likely to start for wales at present, he'd likely be in the squad if he was fit. and if he'd had more injury free years who knows how far he might have gone?

and not being able to sympathise with a player who has had a lot of rotten luck with injuries really lowers my estimation of you. regardless of who he is, a talented rugby player not being able to play on a regular basis is a shame and is rugby's loss.

how much is whinging and how much is "sources close to the player..." simply because someone doesnt have jonny wilkinson's attitude to injuries doesnt make him a moaner. the other side of the coin is that jonny wilkinson should have jacked it in years ago - who knows what state his body will be in 20 years down the line - arthritis, replaceemnt joints, etc etc etc.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by semi mental »

WhiteKnightoftheWeld wrote:
and not being able to sympathise with a player who has had a lot of rotten luck with injuries really lowers my estimation of you.
does this mean we can't be friends?

it would suck being out injured, but the massive paycheck and huge house etc would soften the blow. i'll save my sympathy for those who lose their jobs and can't afford to feed their families, thanks very much.

regarding the "rugby needs him" line of thought, it is tosh. the game is now far bigger than any one player.
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WhiteKnightoftheWeld
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by WhiteKnightoftheWeld »

so no sympathy for rory?
no sympathy for ferris missing out on the lions tests?

cant speak for henson, but i know that a lot of professional rugby players would prefer a long career with international honours and success, and an end-terrace with a 2 week holiday in their dad's caravan, than a nice 5 bedroom/3 bathroom with range rover sport in the country and loads of time on the sidelines and on the physio bench
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by Rob6 »

LastKnightoftheproms wrote:In his defence two things:-

1. He instantly signalled the ref that Humphs DG was good.
2. I remember him standing on a baltic night in Ravenhill signing autographs for the kids when everyone else had gone for a shower.

Think he's got all the talent but his temperament is a bit suspect. Nevertheless, some of his qualities are admirable enough. Hate to see anyone's playing career cut short by injuries.
Another defense of him (I think!!)

Was Henson, not one of the players that escorted another Ospreys player from the stand whenever he shouted when humps was talking a penalty/ conversion at Ravenhill a few seasons back??
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by semi mental »

WhiteKnightoftheWeld wrote:
cant speak for henson, but i know that a lot of professional rugby players would prefer a long career with international honours and success, and an end-terrace with a 2 week holiday in their dad's caravan, than a nice 5 bedroom/3 bathroom with range rover sport in the country and loads of time on the sidelines and on the physio bench
pure speculation.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by WhiteKnightoftheWeld »

might be.
was making the point that a player will put actually being able to play, and having success, than the money and everything else that goes with being at the top of the game.

what about rory and ferris though? any sympathy for them and their injuries? i mean one is missing probably an entire season, another missed out on lions test rugby. gotta feel for the guys - no?
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by Ardglass2 »

Rob6 wrote:
LastKnightoftheproms wrote:In his defence two things:-

1. He instantly signalled the ref that Humphs DG was good.
2. I remember him standing on a baltic night in Ravenhill signing autographs for the kids when everyone else had gone for a shower.

Think he's got all the talent but his temperament is a bit suspect. Nevertheless, some of his qualities are admirable enough. Hate to see anyone's playing career cut short by injuries.
Another defense of him (I think!!)

Was Henson, not one of the players that escorted another Ospreys player from the stand whenever he shouted when humps was talking a penalty/ conversion at Ravenhill a few seasons back??
I was right in front of them and certainly Henson gave the player concerned a withering look of contempt and made it clear he thought the player was a total plonker.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by semi mental »

WhiteKnightoftheWeld wrote:
what about rory and ferris though? any sympathy for them and their injuries? i mean one is missing probably an entire season, another missed out on lions test rugby. gotta feel for the guys - no?
regarding ferris and the lions tour, i was gutted for the team and disappointed for him. but injuries are a part of sport and he's still an irish international in his early twenties. like i said, it would suck to be injured, but they are still top level rugby players, making very good money and with a very cool lifestyle. henson is unfortunate with his injuries, but the guy has already won 2 grand slams - his name is already etched in the history books. so my sympathy for injured rugby players is relative. matt hampson - absolutely. gavin henson - not so much.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by The Boo Radleys »

Maybe he's off to League...
Harris offers Henson league stage

New Wales rugby league coach Iestyn Harris says he would offer Gavin Henson a stage on which to resurrect his rugby career - if he became available.

Henson has not played for the Ospreys since March and has been placed on unpaid indefinite leave by the region.

He is a keen follower of rugby league and attended a number of Celtic Crusaders matches this summer.

"If he was available to be picked for the squad, then you would be foolish not to pick him." said Harris.

"I'm sure Gavin's got his own ideas of what he wants to do with his career, but, certainly, if he was available then we would certainly pick him."

Henson's attendance at Crusaders matches in the Super League sparked rumours he might switch codes, although the Crusaders admitted they would be unable to buy him out of his existing contract with union outfit the Ospreys.

But if that contract was terminated and Henson became a free agent then Harris says he would be keen to get the 27-year-old Wales centre involved in the 13-man code.

Harris, who will take charge of his first Wales game in October against England, added: "Gavin is an absolute quality player. His credentials speak for themselves.

"The performances he's put in for the Wales rugby union team and for the Ospreys have been immense over the last five, six, seven years."

Henson has been on unpaid leave from the Ospreys after a succession of injury set-backs.

His lack of match fitness saw him overlooked for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa this summer, having been selected four years earlier for the series in New Zealand.

Henson's latest injury - an ankle problem - flared up during his side's EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat by Gloucester in March.

He has not played since and Ospreys bosses Andrew Hore and Scott Johnson have stated they would give the 27-year-old as much time as he needed to recover from his injury problems.

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Re: Henson finished?

Post by Freddie Benson »

Henson to return according to Cuddy
Gavin Henson is set to hand Wales a World Cup boost as the British and Irish Lions centre could return from indefinite leave next season.

The Ospreys superstar has been on a rugby sabbatical since an ankle injury in their EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat by Gloucester in March 2009.

The double-Grand Slam winner's career has consistently been in doubt since.

But Ospreys chief Mike Cuddy told a newspaper that the 28-year-old will return for club and country next term.

"He has told me he will be back next season and playing before the end of the year," chairman Cuddy revealed to the Daily Mail.

"Gavin has been honest with me all along. All the injuries, especially the prolonged ones over his groin and Achilles tendon, got him down.

"He took a break and now he is feeling all the better for it."

The news of Henson's return will be a huge boost for Wales coach Warren Gatland ahead of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand next September.

606: DEBATE
The body may be fit but is his head in the right place? Gavin is a good player when he wants to be but consistency is the key to success

truetaff

Wales certainly missed Henson's defensive attributes and creative spark in this season's Six Nations and his record of just two defeats in all of his 15 Championship matches is testament to Henson's qualities to the national team.

Indeed, Gatland admitted Henson's impact on Wales recently when the New Zealander acknowledged "when he is fit and on form, he is one of the best."

And Gatland added: "It will be a tragedy if he is lost to the game because he is a huge talent."

Henson, whose engagement to singer Charlotte Church was announced last week, is now planning to end an 18-month rugby exile that meant him missing the 2009 Lions Tour to world champions South Africa and enduring a 'soul-destroying blow.'

The 31-times capped Welshman was "really depressed" after he suffered more injury heartbreak last season and the Ospreys management agreed for him to go on unpaid, indefinite leave.

A succession of groin, hernia, calf, Achilles tendon and ankle injuries have robbed Wales of Henson's undoubted natural talent in all but 14 internationals in the last five years.

Henson has been trying to keep himself in shape during filming of reality TV show 71 Degrees North in Norway where he is one of 12 celebrities competing in gruelling challenges.

The Bridgend-born 2001 IRB Young Player of the Year has missed Wales' last two World Cups - failing to prove his fitness after an Achilles tendon problem before the 2007 showpiece - so will want to make it third time lucky at New Zealand 2011.

Henson, who joined the Ospreys from Swansea after the advent of regional rugby, shot to stardom by kicking a last-gasp winning penalty to beat rivals England 11-9 in the opening game of the 2005 Six Nations Championship.

And Henson was a key part in that memorable campaign that culminated in Wales' first Grand Slam for 27 years.

His form earned him a starting berth in the 2005 Lions' second Test in New Zealand, playing in the 48-18 defeat to the All Blacks in Wellington.

His 2007 World Cup disappointment was tempered when he played a key role in Wales' second Grand Slam in four seasons as the Welsh enjoyed a clean-sweep in 2008.

But after speculation - and subsequent denials - Henson was considering retirement from rugby, he suffered another injury blow last year.

The Ospreys and Cuddy, who is a good friend of Henson, reassured the player he would receive as much time as he needed to recover both physically and mentally.

Now the Ospreys hope Henson will comeback next season and return to the form that helped the Welsh region to the Celtic League crown in 2005 and 2007.
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Re: Henson finished?

Post by Jackie Brown »

Who cares? Over-rated, Welsh, muppet
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