Peter Jackson: Groundhog Day, and Gav blinks back into the light

During the course of fox-trotting his way into five clubs over 20 months, Gavin Henson has danced to the same old tune. Every move, every arrival at a variety of new employers across all three of Europe’s major Leagues, created the same initial impression. Since breaking free of the Ospreys, Welsh rugby‘s Prodigal Son let it be known he had found the right club in the right place at the right time.
It was as if he thought they had a greener shade of grass at Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues, London Welsh and now Bath. As footballing nomads go, Henson has upped sticks more than the average Bedouin has upped tents, greeting each new club as though it would be his last.
Transfer No. 1 – Ospreys to Saracens, October 2011:
“I am genuinely delighted to get this opportunity to play for Saracens. They have created a special vibe at the club and, to be honest, just being around them has rekindled my enthusiasm for the sport.”
In next to no time, the enthusiasm for life in the English Premiership had been superseded by enthusiasm for the sunnier zone of the French Top 14. His aim on signing: “To start working hard and letting my rugby do the talking for me,” proved a little ambitious.
After two starts and two more appearances off the bench, Henson was on his way. For the Strictly Come Dancing star, the transition from ballroom back to his other specialist arena prompted Sarries to make it sound like an abortive paso doble.
By pointing out that the Fez Heads would not be refusing to release Henson from his contract once he had asked to go, chief executive Edward Griffiths sounded a bit like Fred Astaire after a work-out with Ginger Rogers: “We always knew this would be a step-by-step exercise.”
Stay at Saracens – 14 weeks.
Transfer No 2 – Saracens to Toulon, February 2012:
“I’m sort of on trial but I wish I’d done this sooner. It’s a great part of the world and to have the opportunity to work down here is amazing. The squad of players is awesome and the facilities are great. This is a club I want to be at but I just have to try to keep on impressing.”
An incident on the way home from a win over Toulouse in Marseille created the sort of impression which moved Toulon to suspend their Welshman for a week. It also put him on a different trial, one which depended on the outcome of a club investigation into allegations that Henson had angered team-mates by criticising Jonny Wilkinson and the captain, Joe van Niekerk.
Mourad Boudjellal, the club’s president and collector of global superstars par excellence, gave Henson one last chance but the writing was on the wall. “We do not want to blame anyone,” Boudjellal said. “But for next season we hope that team spirit is a priority.”
Stay at Toulon – 3 months, 2 matches.
Transfer No. 3 – Toulon to Cardiff Blues, October 2012:
“I’ve been saying I wanted to play back in Wales and I’m glad of the opportunity Cardiff Blues have given me. I’m glad I’ve signed here.”
Again it ended in tears. The Blues terminated his contract before the end of the season over drunken antics on a trip to Glasgow.
Stay at Cardiff – 6 months, 8 matches.
Transfer No. 4 to London Welsh, August 2012:
“I’m very lucky to have a chance here. This is my last chance. I thought Cardiff would be my last club but I couldn’t end my career like that.”
Reunited with Lyn Jones, his old mentor from the early days of the Ospreys, Henson kept his nose clean, if not another part of his face. A smashed cheekbone the week before the season began delayed his re-entry into the English Premiership for two months.
Stay at London Welsh – 9 months, 7 matches.
Transfer No. 5 to Bath, June 2013:
“I’m thrilled to be joining Bath. I’m really lucky to be here and have this opportunity. I look forward to becoming part of what looks a very exciting squad. I know what is expected of me and I can’t wait to get started.”
Before he could get that far, Henson found himself back on the canvas, dumped there by a punch from another of Bath’s signings under Bruce Craig’s ownership, ex-Sale Sharks back rower Carl Fearns. It was, if nothing else, a novel form of team-bonding in a public house.
According to Henson, there was a reason why he went down “quite easy by the looks of things” as seen on a video gone viral. By his own calculation, between 20 and 25 pints had been consumed.
Undaunted, Bath reckon they provide “the perfect platform” for Henson to resurrect an international career which has been moribund since a fractured wrist in his last match, against England two years ago, cost him an appearance at the World Cup in New Zealand.
Mike Ford, the former England defence coach now working at Bath in tandem with head coach Gary Gold, issued a verdict on Henson which was hardly going to breach the Official Secrets Act:
“People are saying this is his last chance…”
They’ve been saying that with just about every change of scenery since he ended his self-imposed exile and left Swansea almost two years ago.