Cynics might say it was inevitable that Gavin Henson should
sign up for a team based in the big bad city. After all, they might say, he’s
more interested in being in the limelight than he is being under floodlights.
London Welsh, they would say, are the latest in a long line of suitors who are
destined to have their hearts broken.
But let’s just look at things from our Gav’s point of view.
On a personal level, he gets to work and live near his kids.
As they grow, he’ll be more and more aware of the need to build those
relationships, and this could represent a major opportunity for Henson to put
down some roots. Lyn Jones, his old mentor from the early Ospreys days, knows
him well, and will play the role of the wise owl.
In playing terms, the quest to rediscover the Henson who
played such a critical role in the Mike Ruddock Grand Slam team may be
unrealistic anyway. Henson is now on the wrong side of 30, and his lack of
exposure to the fast moving demands of the game in the meantime will make his
selection a gamble. On a basic level, the fact that these lost years have been
largely self inflicted mean that there remain huge question marks over his
desire to play the game.
And the Premiership is no place for someone who wants to
play a bit of touch rugby before going home to read bedtime stories to the
kids. Henson will feel more wanted at London Welsh, with all his experience,
and will not be playing second or third fiddle to the likes of Jamie Roberts,
but he will have to be completely committed to battle it out if he is to
persuade those around him that this move is the one…
