Gavin Henson sacked by Cardiff Blues following drunken flight behaviour

GAVIN Henson’s rugby career could be over after he was sacked by the Cardiff Blues following his drunken behaviour on a flight back from Glasgow on Saturday morning.

The 33-cap Wales centre, 30, had already been suspended by the club due to his antics as the Blues returned home after their 31-3 hammering at the hands of the Warriors in Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter at Firhill.

Henson subsequently issued an apology for his behaviour and admitted he had been out drinking following the match and had continued to drink on the flight.

But his appearance as a replacement against Glasgow was his eighth and last for the Blues, as his contract was terminated following a meeting of the club’s management this morning. Doubts have now been cast over whether another club will be willing to take a chance on the British and Irish Lion.

In a club statement, chief executive Richard Holland said: “The Cardiff Blues management have discussed the matter at length but have acted swiftly since the incident occurred on Saturday morning. Gavin admitted himself that his behaviour was totally unacceptable and the immediate termination of his contract sends out a clear message that behaviour like that will not be tolerated at the Blues.

“We have a duty to our supporters and sponsors to protect the good name of Cardiff Blues and those associated with our brand. Gavin Henson is obviously a talented rugby player and it’s unfortunate that his career at the Blues has ended this way.

“However, we would like to thank him for his service and wish him the best of luck with his future career.”

The airline Flybe had launched their own investigation into the incident, and they confirmed that Henson has been banned from using their services for six months as a result of his actions. A company spokesperson said: “The safety of our passengers and staff is Flybe’s number one Henson’s apology following Saturday’s flight from Glasgow to Cardiff.

“However, in line with company policy, we have written to him, informing him that he will be banned from Flybe services for a period of six months.”

The Blues were Henson’s fourth club in little over a year after being released by the Ospreys and having short stints at Saracens and Toulon.

His spell in France was also marred by an alcohol-related incident, with the club suspending him for a week after a nightclub altercation with two team-mates. And his sacking is the latest in a long line of controversies which have dogged Henson’s career.

First capped as a 19-year-old in 2001, he sprang to prominence by kicking a monster penalty to help Wales beat England 11-9 at the start of the 2005 RBS Six Nations, paving the way for a first Welsh Grand Slam in 27 years and his selection for the Lions tour of New Zealand.

Later that year he was forced to apologise to his Wales team-mates over revelations he made in his book My Grand Slam Year, and, shortly after, he was banned for seven weeks for elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno.

Henson rediscovered his best form to be a key figure in Wales’ 2008 Six Nations clean sweep, which came just a few months after an incident on a train in December 2007 that saw him charged with disorderly conduct, although the case was later dropped.

But with the rugby world seemingly his for the taking, a mixture of injuries followed by a self-imposed exile from the game between March 2009 and October 2010 saw his star fade.

During that time Henson appeared in several reality TV shows, including Strictly Come Dancing and 71 Degrees North, and also went on to appear in The Bachelor.

Having negotiated a release from his Ospreys contract in October 2010, Henson joined Saracens – for whom he made just four appearances – and Toulon in quick succession as he sought to win a place in Wales’ squad for the 2011 World Cup.

Henson’s stint in France started promisingly with a try on his debut, but the nightclub altercation saw him suspended for a week and he was not offered a contract extension at the end of the season. Despite not having a club, Henson won his first Wales cap for over two years in the defeat to the Barbarians last May and was named in coach Warren Gatland’s provisional World Cup squad, only for a wrist injury suffered in the warm-up win over England to end his aspirations.

There had been glimpses of his best form in that fixture, and it was enough to convince the Blues to take a chance on the three-quarter, but that chance has now gone.