'Cursed' Henson fears Lions hopes are over

Published on Wednesday 1 April 2009 23:32

GAVIN Henson feels cursed and questioned his future in rugby after learning that his hopes of touring South Africa with the British and Irish Lions this year haven been ruined by an ankle ligament injury.

The Wales centre, who was embroiled in controversy on the last Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, was injured playing for Ospreys against Gloucester on Saturday and his club physio says it is unlikely he will be able to play again until May. "It is a complete nightmare again, I can't believe my luck," Henson said. "I'm pretty down and depressed about it at the moment, maybe I'm cursed.

"The injury will probably rule me out of the Lions tour, to be honest. It'll be a pretty brave decision to take me now as I'm probably a bit of a liability with the way I am with my injuries. This season is probably a miss now."

Asked about whether or not he had a future in the game, he said: "Those thoughts run through my head. When I get knocked out with an injury, it is soul-destroying. Is it worth it?

"It is pretty tough off the field. Rugby has gone so professional you start to lose the enjoyment side of it."

The Lions squad is due to be named on 21 April. They will play ten matches, including three Tests against South Africa, from 30 May to 4 July.

With Lions head coach Ian McGeechan taking a trimmed-down squad of around 35 to South Africa, he is unlikely to gamble on any player's fitness.