Newcastle Falcons wanted to swoop on Gavin Henson
Their offer was still on the table when the Falcons’ relegation cleared the way for the out-of-work Welshman to make the move he had been waiting for – to the Exiles. After 15 unbroken seasons in the top flight of the English game, Newcastle have suffered the double whammy of losing their status and one of their main targets.
Henson’s reward for his patience is to be reunited with his old Ospreys‘ mentor Lyn Jones. Had the RFU dismissed Welsh’s appeal against their exclusion from the Premiership and reaffirmed their original decision to give Newcastle a reprieve, he might have ended up on Tyneside under their new supremo, Dean Richards.
Henson has taken a vow of silence over his latest move but Welsh sources close to the player say he rejected bigger offers to bank on London Welsh. He sees their Premiership baptism as the last chance to resurrect a career tarnished by his sacking for disciplinary reasons from Cardiff Blues after short-stay transfers to Saracens and Toulon.
“Gavin hasn’t joined London Welsh to line his pockets” one source told The Rugby Paper. “He had the option of going to Newcastle but he decided to wait for the outcome of Welsh’s appeal.
“Once he knew they would be playing in the Premiership, he wasn’t going to sign for anyone else. He’s gone solely for rugby reasons. Money is the least important thing. He could have got more elsewhere but wasn’t interested.
“He’s gone to London because he knows Lyn Jones, he trusts him and respects him. It’s a good move for Gavin and a good one for London Welsh. They’ve got a quality player at a very reasonable price.
“He’s as fit as a fiddle and in a more driven mood than for a long time. He has things to prove to himself as well as everyone else and what’s driving him most of all is what happened to him at Cardiff. The last thing Gav wants is for his career to end like that.”
Henson’s agent, Matt Ginvert of Arruga Sports, refused to comment on Newcastle’s bid. “Three other clubs were in for him – two English one French,” Ginvert said.
“London Welsh is the perfect move for him.”
Another plus for Henson is that the Exiles intend playing him at fly-half, his preferred position, rather than inside centre. As a further sign that he means business on the field, Henson will not allow himself to be distracted by commercial activities off it like reality television shows.
“We have had numerous approaches and we’ve turned them all down,” Ginvert said. “There will always be offers for someone like Gavin but his sole motivation is to give his very best to London Welsh and nothing else.”
PETER JACKSON
