Henson told to choose TV or a rugby career

LAWRENCE Dallaglio believes Gavin Henson needs to decide if he wants to be a “TV personality or a rugby player” following his sacking by the Cardiff Blues.

The Wales centre was let go by the RaboDirect PRO12 club after an incident on the flight back from Scotland after last Friday’s 31-3 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.

It is the latest in a string of controversies for the 30-year-old, who returned to rugby following a year-long sabbatical in which he starred in a number of reality TV shows.

Henson made his comeback at Saracens in October 2010, before a short-lived spell at Top 14 side Toulon and the ill-fated switch to Cardiff means he has played for three different clubs in the space of a year.

Dallaglio, who was speaking as an Amlin Rugby Ambassador, hailed Henson’s talent but believes the versatile back needs to take some time to decide where his priorities lie.

“It’s a shame for him as an individual because as a player he’s shown at times immense potential,” said Dallaglio. “I don’t really know what happened [on the flight] so I can’t comment too much about the incident, but Cardiff have decided they’ve had enough, which is a shame.

“Gavin now needs to go away and think about what he wants as an individual. Does he want to be a TV personality or does he want to be a rugby player? Playing rugby is really tough at the highest level and you have to be 100 per cent focused and dedicated to doing that to stand any chance of being successful.

“He’s certainly got the potential and it’s up to him to decide what he wants to do.”

Henson’s reality show career has seen him star in ITV’s 71 Degrees North and the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, along with Channel 5’s The Bachelor, a show in which he looked for love. However, Dallaglio, who is no stranger to controversy himself after a tabloid scandal saw him resign as England captain in 1999, does not believe this latest incident spells the end for Henson’s rugby career. “I’ve met him and saw a very nice, young, affable man,” Dallaglio said. “He’s a real asset to any club that he plays for and to his country as well. It’s a big loss for him and potentially for Wales and it’s disappointing because as a player he’s shown so much potential over the years.

“The game’s hard enough without making it harder for yourself.”

Henson was fired ahead of Cardiff’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against reigning champions Leinster this weekend, with fellow Wales centre Jamie Roberts now set to miss the clash due to a season-ending knee injury.

The Welsh region confirmed that Roberts will have surgery on a long-standing knee problem after it flared up during the defeat by Glasgow. Roberts originally picked up a knee problem in the Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro in November and suffered another injury to the same knee on Friday. He needs surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.

Roberts recovered from the original injury in time to feature in Wales’ RBS Six Nations Grand Slam success, although a knee complaint forced his withdrawal at half-time in the win over England at Twickenham. He will be out for around six months after his operation. He said: “I’ve been advised by the surgeon that my knee is now not stable enough to continue playing and potentially risk further injury to the knee.

“The decision has been made for me to have an operation on the anterior cruciate ligament later this week. It will mean a minimum of roughly six months away from the playing field.”