London Irish want talks with Gavin Henson over move

Rare sight: Gavin Henson, playing for the Ospreys in January last year, wants to leave Wales and move to a club in London
10 April 2012

London Irish revealed their interest in Gavin Henson today after the controversial Wales centre said he wanted to move to a club in the capital.

The Irish have emerged as the front-runners for a deal after London Wasps, Harlequins and Saracens all distanced themselves from the 28-year-old.

Henson insists personal reasons are the driving force behind his desire to leave the Ospreys and join a club in London. The 28-year-old is on unpaid leave from the Welsh side — with whom he has a contract until May — but is desperate to find a club in London so he can rebuild his career while dealing with off-pitch problems.

London Irish director of rugby Toby Booth is well aware of the "baggage" Henson brings with him but said: "Tell Gavin to give me a ring."

While Booth is ready to talk business, Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea insists his club have no interest in the centre while Sarries, the biggest spending club in the capital, made it clear there was "zero chance of Henson joining us this season".

Wasps, linked with Henson last week, maintained their stated position of having no plans to add anyone to their squad, leaving Irish in pole position.

Booth said: "The wage cap [£4m] is an issue and you cannot get a player for nothing because everyone has a nominal value. You cannot just get a sponsor to pick up the guy's wages and so it has to be done within the wage cap. There are various ways of dealing with that, including back loading any deal with bigger payments coming later in the contract.

"Of course we are interested in any good players that becomes available and someone's reputation doesn't really matter. The only question is: Can you work with them?"

Over at Quins, O'Shea says he is happy with his midfield options and is committed to the club's policy of growing their own talent.

"We are very happy with the guys in our squad and we wouldn't want to waste anyone's time," he said.

Sarries chief executive Edward Griffiths also closed the door on Henson. He said: "We are happy with our squad and if we did look at anyone then character and ability are the criteria that are vital. We always make sure the guy will fit into what we are building here."

Henson has not played since injuring his ankle in March 2009 but it is no longer fitness that is keeping the Strictly Come Dancing star off the pitch.

His break-up from entertainer Charlotte Church has left Henson living away from his young children who are in London, while he also admits to being "embarrassed" by the way the situation has been publicly played out in the newspapers.

"I had heart-to-heart talks with the Ospreys, I opened my heart to them really, told them what had gone on, I told them for compassionate reasons, for my mental state of mind, I need to go somewhere for the season," he told BBC Two's Scrum TV in a special edition to be shown tonight.

"I just felt a bit embarrassed to go back into the changing room with the boys, the Ospreys, they know me so well, they would be asking me personal questions and I wasn't quite ready for that. I just wanted to have a season away. I love the Ospreys, I played with Swansea from 18 and naturally moved on to the Ospreys, that's my region, that's my club. I want to come back there but now it's in the hands of the solicitors and I didn't want it to get there. It's tough."

Henson claimed it was only fair for him to be allowed to find a club while he was not being paid by the Ospreys, who he said would not miss him.

"I need to earn," he said. "I need a fresh start. I look at the Ospreys and there are about 10 centres and we are all as good as each other so personally I don't think they are going to miss me. I just want to play for Wales: I want to play in the Six Nations, I really believe I can play in this year's Six Nations, and the World Cup.

"To me it's not about money or anything. I feel I've got my hunger back, visualising in training about the game again and I feel like I'll only need about one or two games to prove myself."

However, Henson said he did not want to sever his ties with the Ospreys completely.

"I signed the contract," he said. "[Managing director] Mike Cuddy has always stated I'll come back and play for the Ospreys which I will in time. I don't want to let anyone down, that's the last thing. I just want what is best for me and my family."

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