Celtic League - Report: Wales star Henson to quit

Eurosport - Tue, 14 Jul 08:43:00 2009

Controversial Wales and Ospreys star Gavin Henson is preparing to quit rugby for good, according to a newspaper report.

Gavin Henson - Ospreys - 0

The Sun reports that the troubled centre (pictured) has informed Ospreys' director Mike Cuddy that he was quitting after becoming disillusioned with rugby.

Despite efforts by Cuddy and other Ospreys staff to get Henson to change his mind, the newspaper claims that Henson has insisted that he needs a break from the game.

Henson was due back at pre-season training with the Ospreys today, two weeks into the club's pre-season programme.

The revelations were made at a rugby league match between Celtic Crusaders and Salford and sources claimed the husband of millionaire singer Charlotte Church wanted to spend more time at his new passion sailing.

"Gavin bought a new boat with Charlotte and is now much happier sailing that he is training for rugby," the source was quoted saying in the newspaper.

"He was at the Crusaders game and talking quite openly about his intention to quit. He said Ospreys has begged him to stay on but he needs time to go away and think about things."

According to another source quoted by the paper, Henson spent weeks agonising over the decision.

Henson is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in European rugby, but his career has been blighted by injury, off-field incidents and a so-called 'celebrity' lifestyle.

After being left out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup squad, the 27-year-old was welcomed back into the international fold when Warren Gatland took charge of Wales.

But after playing key a key role in Wales' 2008 Six Nations Grand Slam, Henson suffered a series of injuries that affected his 2008-9 season and culminated in him missing out on selection for this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

The 31-times capped Henson signed a contract extension with the Ospreys last summer that was supposed to keep him at the Liberty Stadium until the end of the 2010/11 season.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport

Comment 36 - 55 of 55

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  1. this story is a fake thats the sun papper for you

    From alan, on Tue 14 Jul 1:00AM

  2. The team is always bigger than an individual player .In­ rugby 15 is greater than 14 +1.

    From kj35tfe, on Mon 13 Jul 9:50PM

  3. taffsplace, would the ability to write not imply the­ ability to read?

    From ptothej, on Mon 13 Jul 9:11PM

  4. regarded by who???

    From ptothej, on Mon 13 Jul 8:52PM

  5. Dumped on by woodward in the 2005 lions series against­ the all blacks when we needed welsh flair to attack.­ Controversial comments plus injury have taken the gloss­ away from a talented rugby star. He will obviously be­ missed but in wales they produce talent in abundance.­ To be talked of in the same breath as­ bebb,edwards,watkins etc must be mind blowing but to be­ slagged off as someone who wasted there talent is­ something else.

    From STEVEN, on Mon 13 Jul 8:42PM

  6. Vic is obviously a moron who hasn't heard of Gavin­ Henson and perhaps should stick to reading the Beano if­ he can read. Henson sure is a talent and yes I believe­ genuine rugby followers will agree, but alas the bright­ lights overtook his desire to play and rugby is the­ loser to this rich talent.

    From taffsplace, on Mon 13 Jul 7:35PM

  7. good job his wifes got money

    From Alex F, on Mon 13 Jul 7:14PM

  8. grovesstuart -- English I suppose,ignorant breed.

    From ARTHUR R, on Mon 13 Jul 6:44PM

  9. Does anyone care? He's talented but too needy. Like­ a posh bird.

    From Ian H, on Mon 13 Jul 5:33PM

  10. Great talent when he was playing...just got to big for­ his own boots...thinks he is the dogs b o ll oc ks. ­ when really he's a @#$%!

    From limo1wales L, on Mon 13 Jul 5:31PM

  11. Disappointed to hear this news of Gavin Henson's­ retirement from one respect. He is cleary a wayward­ talent who has answered the call of his new found­ celebrity status as Mr Charlotte Church. He is, or­ should I say was, nowhere near the finished article but­ possessed massive potential. He has been very quiet on­ the field for the last year or so and looked very­ subdued whenever I saw him play. I think it's a­ real shame and someone close to him needs to have a big­ chat with the boy about his future ambitions and­ plans.he will be a long time retired and quickly­ forgotten. This story seems to have a number of­ similarities to Danny Cipriani's. Mind you, given­ the choice of training every day in wet and windy West­ Wales or staying in bed snuggled up to Ms Church I know­ which one I would choose!!

    From neilfrederick, on Mon 13 Jul 4:46PM

  12. If the doing his hair and shaving his legs was part of­ his warm up so what, most players sit and listen to­ music and chill we dont complain about that or shd we­ start calling them lazy F*%$ers! He could have been a­ great player but no-one knows the reasons for his set­ backs only him/ his club and the WRU!

    From andrew, on Mon 13 Jul 4:21PM

  13. Well if its in The Sun it must be true then!

    From casino, on Mon 13 Jul 3:55PM

  14. Beckham could manage the superstar image off the field­ because he had a genuine love for the game of football.­ Hensons feelings for the game of rugby obviously do not­ come close. It has always been evident that as soon as­ he met Charlotte and has been enjoying "the­ lifestyle" then rugby would always be second best.­ Wales and the Ospreys will not miss him. He has missed­ more games than he has played. I predicted this­ happening a long time ago. Enjoy your retirement­ Gavin.Yes,you are talented but unless you can give 100%­ then you certainly wont be missed.

    From sweynseye, on Mon 13 Jul 3:30PM

  15. retired ? oh no - how is he going to afford all that­ extra strong l'oreal superstar lifestyle hair gel­ and who is going to spike his hair up to just the right­ pretty boy length ? if he devoted 10 % of the time he­ does on his image to rugby , he would be the best­ player in the world now. great rugby player - huge self­ obsessed ponce.

    From michael b, on Mon 13 Jul 3:07PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He is still on _____SearchingMillionaire­ webSite________.Is he Sing le again?
    GOGOLE IT!!you­ will be surprised!

    I heard he met a hot model there.

    From nikiliy, on Mon 13 Jul 3:02PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He is still on _____SearchingMillionaire­ webSite________.Is he Sing le again?
    GOGOLE IT!!you­ will be surprised!

    I heard he met a hot model there.

    From nikiliy, on Mon 13 Jul 3:01PM

  18. Never reached his full potential, he had buckets of­ talent but obviously enjoyed the attention more than­ actually playing. By the way Taff, I don't think he­ would have made an all Blacks team considering he could­ barely hold down his place on the Welch team. Wales­ have Hook, Roberts and Shanklin so I really don't­ think he will be missed all that much.

    From markear1, on Mon 13 Jul 2:54PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Henson has it all, kick , tackle,strong as a bullock,­ excellent vision, brave you name it he has it. The only­ welsh player who could get into an all black team. I­ can understand his frustration welsh rugby still isnt­ professional enough were only winning games on are­ skill not on are hard work. Justin marshall, tiatia,­ collin, holler they all come to wales to get more money­ for less hard work. Henson knows this. All the best gav­ thanks for the entertainment. I bet matthew tait is­ gald your hanging up the boots. same age as King barry.

    From Taff, on Mon 13 Jul 2:39PM

  20. I ALWAYS NEW HE WAS A QUITTER
    IF HE DID,NT HAVE­ CHARLLOTES MONEY WHAT A DIFFERANT STORY THIS WOULD BE

    From Karen C, on Mon 13 Jul 2:29PM
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