Cardiff Blues
The Trails and Tribulations of Gavin Henson
Henson is a Blue
By Andrew Collins
October 19 2011
It was the news which shook Cardiff rugby; 6 months ago, it would’ve sent shockwaves across Europe, but following Wales’ remarkable World Cup efforts, is Gavin Henson really such a great signing?
It came as something of a surprise yesterday, when news broke that former Ospreys, Wales, Lions and Strictly Come Dancing star Gavin Henson had signed an 8 month contract with the Cardiff Blues. The immensely gifted, yet ambiguously controversial 29 year old really has experienced the highs and lows of modern day professional sport, yet through what many would consider his own downfall, he has failed to truly become the icon which he and Wales hoped he would.
February 5th, 2005. A star is born.
Following years in the shadow of their illustrious neighbours, Wales recorded a stunning 11-9 victory of the auld enemy, with youngster Gavin Henson the shining light, the beacon of hope. It was a 6 Nations debut that had it all; the line breaks, the offloads, the hand-offs, the defence, the everlasting image of England’s latest poster boy Matthew Tait being unceremoniously man handled by the Wales outside half and of course, that kick.
‘It's difficult to get across how much class he has - he's majestic’ said Jerry Guscott.
‘Henson had been outstanding all night and he stepped up to rifle the ball unerringly between the posts from 44 metres and clinch a dramatic win for Wales.’ Said BBC.
It was the beginning of the Welsh rugby revolution, whose effects are so, so evident in this World Cup team. And it was undoubted led by Henson.
Soon after, and Wales were crowned 6 Nations Champions off the back of an incredible Grand Slam achieved with style. The beacon shone bright.
From being Wales’ hero, revelations of a Henson-Church romance places the rugby star into the media spotlight, back pages became front as tales of love become nights out and tribulations. If that was Henson’s first mistake, the second was soon to follow.
The Lions tour came and went, with the Welshman’s exclusion seen as an injustice by pundits across Britain. He was one of few to enhance their reputation.
Wales’ Marmite relationship began...
‘Silver boots, perma-tanned skin, shaven legs and gravity-defying red spikes in his hair -- Gavin Henson is Wales's hottest new celeb and rugby's golden boy.’ Said the product description on Amazon for 23 year old Henson’s new autobiography, My Grand Slam Year.
Dressing room tales and stories of unprofessionalism, revealing all to the nation; ‘all’ that is about his fellow team mates. This did not go down very well.
And then there was Ruddock-gate.
Thus began Wales’ love-hate relationship with Gav.
Injuries blighted the next 18 months for the Ospreys star, while new-boy James Hook began to make his own mark on Welsh rugby, Henson was forced to watch and wait. His comments in the book had done him no favours, and he missed out on a Rugby World Cup trip with the 2007 touring party.
In December that year, he found himself in trouble with the police following a disagreement on a train.
But as 2007 broke into 2008, he found his fitness and began to force an irresistible partnership with Blues centre Tom Shanklin. Under Warren Gatland Wales had a midfield to envy; the sort of power and strength Wales could never had expected to produce. They were unbreakable.
This time, it wasn’t a Henson-centric Grand Slam. Shane and Martyn Williams led by Ryan Jones the main heroes, but in Gav and Tom, Wales had found a defence to base their side around.
But injuries again struck him down, and while he had two children with Church, his heart seemed to leave the game.
Then we hit another blank in the Henson career notes.
2009 fizzled out after a disappointing 6 Nations, culminating in a 17-15 home loss to Ireland, conceding the Grand Slam at the Millennium Stadium.
February 15th, he was again cautioned by police, following an allegation of assault.
Injuries followed injuries and the real comeback never came. A positive EDF Cup semi-final against Gloucester was cut short, prompting Henson to consider quitting the game entirely. He was given a sabbatical by the Ospreys, but throughout that time, nobody at the Liberty Stadium knew where he was, or when he would return.
During his absence, the nonsense began.
In May 2010, he announced that he and partner Charlotte Church would be separated. Then came rumours he would be leaving the region to join rugby league or even take up sailing full time. His future already hung precariously in the balance.
Then it was announced that the unfit Henson would be taking part in reality TV show, 71 Degrees North – irrelevantly, he finished 2nd. But with that out of his system, the Ospreys were sure Henson would be back for the start of the 10/11 season, pushing to make his first, and possibly last, Rugby World Cup squad that summer.
‘Since he last played, Gavin's weight has dropped by three stone as he hasn't had to maintain an intense gym routine. Critics say he faces a huge battle to get back to where he was in the game, both physically and mentally.’ This quote comes from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing page. Honestly. It does. Don’t believe me? (See here!)
And so the latest reality show appearance was announced. The timing seemed a little poor, if he was sincere about getting back into rugby.
October 2010, and Ospreys Chief Mike Cuddy announced that Henson would be released from his contract with immediate effect. The Ospreys felt let down.
Henson cited family reasons for wanting to move to London, eventually signing with the Saracens, to be nearer his children. But following a month-long stint, he decided to move to France. His Saracens career was brief, but it did at least allow him the opportunity to play rugby for the first time in 15 months.
The Toulon move seemed ill-fated from the off. There were already more than enough ego’s at rugby’s new richest club, and it wasn’t long before he found himself arguing with Jonny Wilkinson and fighting his team mates. He was suspended, but allowed to finish off his short-term contract. It was not renewed.
Despite being without a club, Wales coach Warren Gatland offered Henson a shock life-line, including him in the preliminary 45-man World Cup squad. Shortly after, Henson became the Bachelor on the not-so-smash-hit channel 5 show. He insisted it would not affect his World Cup preparations, despite meaning he would miss training to be filming.
He made his Wales comeback against the Barbarians in an unconvincing fashion, being largely out-performed by his young replacement Scott Williams. He kept the starting berth for the following week’s match against England, but where he was the hero 6 years ago, his world cup dream was over, suffering a dislocated wrist.
And so to now.
6 years after his meteoric rise to fame and, until yesterday afternoon, Henson was without a club. He has been incredibly unfortunate with injuries, that much is true, but he hasn’t helped himself.
Cardiff have taken a big risk on signing Henson. Not so much financially, his reported pay-as-you-play deal ensures he is the bargain signing the region needed, but they have signed a player many clubs wouldn’t touch. They’ve taken on a big challenge, but a challenge that could reap phenomenal rewards. Nobody has ever doubted his ability on the pitch, time seems to slow down when he has the ball, he glides almost motionlessly, effortlessly across the park finding space where others simply couldn’t. He is a strong, aggressive, disciplined and immensely talented player and could have all the key elements to turn this Cardiff Blues back line into an incredible unit.
We know he can.
We hope he can.
Is Henson a rugby player celebrity, or a celebrity rugby player? Is he even either? The cliché ‘Last chance saloon’ should only be used once and yet like a cat with 9 lives, Henson’s career is back on track.
For now at least.
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Stumbleupon19/10/2011 12:13
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20/10/2011 13:24
Also "a player many clubs wouldn't touch" is based on false interpretations of fact.
Toulon - he performed well but responded to a windup in a bar by a player with a record for doing that.
Saracens played him out of position.
As for the Hairsprays he on a list of many players that have been messed around by their (mis)management team.
He went through the Polish exercise and but for his injury would have been in NZ now.
Like many talented humans he has issues outside of his main job. Too many people judge him by his showbizz antics.Personally I view what he does on th pitch and his contribution to two Grand Slams. He is up there with such talents as Barry John and Iestyn Harris. Go on Gav - do it!
You say too many people judge him on his showbizz antics; well surely by going on 3 different 'celebrity' 'reality' shows, he's putting himself up to be scrutinized.
Of coure it is his life, his decisions, his choices, his career; but as a proffesional rugby player - whose wages my season ticket money contributes towards - he will be judged for the amount of proffesionalism he puts into his career and the attitue he shows. This is the curse of being a proffesional sportsman, and being a 'celebrity.'
But make no mistake, I welcome Gav with open arms. He IS a world class talent (one of the reasons many do feel frustrated by his antics) and he HAS the potential to do remarkble things with us over the next 8 months and hopefully beyond.
Let's hope he settles here, finds the form we all know he is totally capable of and becomes a Blues hero for the next 5 years or more. But it would be naive to assume he will come without complications. His track record of three clubs last season surely proves this. .
Admin of theArmsPark.co.uk,
Make Noise and You Will Be Heard!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:21:12:49:39 by theArmsPark.co.uk Admin.
22/10/2011 13:54
