On This Day in 2011: Gavin Henson began his ill-fated stay at Cardiff Blues
The flamboyant Wales star toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2005 but never played at a World Cup.
Gavin Henson’s move to the Cardiff Blues in October 2011 ended a two and a half year exile from Welsh club rugby.
Utility back Henson had been searching for a club since French outfit Toulon chose not to renew his contract at the end of the 2010-11 season.
The flamboyant 29-year-old signed an eight-month deal at Cardiff Arms Park on October 18, the move to the Welsh capital coming after he had taken a sabbatical from the Swansea-based Ospreys and unsuccessful spells at Saracens and Toulon.
In the event, Henson – who won 33 caps for Wales and played for the British and Irish Lions on their 2005 tour to New Zealand – dislocated his wrist in a 2011 World Cup warm-up game against England and never played in the competition.
Henson, a key member of Wales’ 2005 Grand Slam-winning side, never represented his country again and his Blues career would end in ignominy just six months later.
The Blues sacked him after his drunken antics on a plane and Henson was barred for six months by Flybe, the airline which flew the team back from a game in Glasgow.
Henson had further spells at London Welsh, Bath, Bristol and the Newport-based Dragons before retiring from the game at the end of the 2018-19 season.
It was announced in September 2020 that Henson had joined rugby league side West Wales Raiders for next year, even though he will be 39 by the time the season starts.
