>> Henson for Wales return
People may think I’m crazy for saying this but do not put it past Gavin Henson getting himself back in contention for the Wales squad this season. Henson is finally back on the big-stage and from all accounts in Bristol, he has still got ‘it’.
The last time he was in the Aviva Premiership, he was playing for a London Welsh side that were fighting a losing battel from the start. But things will be different this time with a Bristol side far better prepared for making a real fist of it in the Premiership and that means he will have a great chance to strut his stuff.
If he plays well in the Premiership and Europe, then who knows what could happen.This is Gavin Henson after all.
It has all been a bit quiet on the Gavfront in recent seasons, but that’s probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Henson is one of the most naturally-gifted players I played with. I saw him win games of all levels almost single-handedly. But we all know the problems that caused his downfall, most of them off the pitch.
Moving to a club in the Championship was good for him, it got him out of the limelight and out of the news. He has really settled at Bristol and matured both as a person and a player.
He has had a lot of niggly injuries over the years and they used to get him down mentally. But it also means he doesn’t have the wear and tear on his body of a normal 32-year-old player.
He is not over the hill. It just feels he has been around for a long time because he first hit the headlines at such a young age, when still a teenager.
Gav still has that drive. He is happy and playing with confidence and I really wouldn’t be surprised if he is back in the Wales squad this season. He will certainly believe he still can.
Warren Gatland has always backed him and why not. He is a quality player, a two-time Grand Slam winner, former World Young Player of the Year and a British Lion. Shaun Edwards is also a fan because of the physicality Gavin brings in defence. If it hasn’t been for the injuries or had he settled at Saracens or Toulon, then he could have been in the starting Test side for the past few years.
So this is a big season for Gav and very exciting. I just hope he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself as he tended to do in the past.
Of course Gavin Henson is not the only Welshman looking to impress in the Premiership this season.
In fact Wales have an entire squad of exiles to pick from. By my reckoning there are at least 15 Welsh internationals now playing in England and only a few of them would be regarded as ‘past-it’. Add to that a head coach in Dai Young, forwards coach Jonathan Thomas and backs coach Dwayne Peel and you have a very handy looking side.
Of more concern is the number of young academy players being poached by heavyweights such as Bath, Bristol and Leicester.
With only four regions, it means opportunities are limited in Wales for these young guys.Then you have the likes of the Tigers and Bath waving their big cheque books with the offer of playing for a massive club, in front of sell-out crowds and for silverware and that can really turn a young man’s head.
The Welsh Rugby Union have appointed Paul Turner to identify and recruit Welsh-qualified players from around the world. Given we are such a small nation, I can see the thinking behind following up any leads, as we’ve seen recently with Tom Francis, Ross Moriarty and Gareth Anscombe. It is certainly something other nations have no qualms about.
The decision to fast-track Anscombe, who has a Welsh mother, into the World Cup set-up last year on a national dual contract wasn’t popular with everyone. But you can’t deny he is not fighting for his place.
But before we spend a lot of money scouring the globe for anyone with a Welsh granny or goldfish, let’s make sure we are doing right by the young men we have emerging in our own backyard and stop those with talent from crossing the border.
Owen Williams felt he had to leave Scarlets and has become one of Leicester’s best players.
Wales Under-20s are in a strong position right now and the likes of Owen Watkins have already come through the senior ranks at Ospreys.
Newport Gwent Dragons have relied on those youngsters more than any side and hopefully they can see a future in Wales.
“Before we scour the world for anyone with a Welsh granny or goldfish, let’s do right by those at home and stop them crossing the border”