Henson faces Wales agony
Ban could wreck his Six Nations hope
GAVIN HENSON’S golden boot has c o m e b a c k t o haunt him after he was cited for aiming a kick at the head of an opponent, jeopardising his participation in the Six Nations.
Henson’s long-awaited return to top- flight rugby after injury descended into disgrace during the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup defeat by Leicester Tigers on Sunday when he elbowed Alex Moreno in the face before then appearing to aim a kick which missed. The prop was left with a broken nose.
Independent citing commissioner Bill Dunlop believes that 23- yearold Henson has a case to answer over his behaviour when he is hauled up in front of disciplinary officers in Glasgow on Friday along with team-mate Ian Evans, who has been cited for kicking out at Harry Ellis.
Henson faces a charge of punching or striking an opponent, as well as kicking an opponent, and if he is found guilty of both charges he will face a suspension of at least three months.
That would sideline him until March 19 — a day after Wales’s final Six Nations clash against France. Such a suspension would mean he would not have appeared in a Wales jersey for more than a year, with the next available opportunity for him to add to his 16 caps arriving on next summer’s tour to Argentina.
However, it is likely that any ban could be reduced because of Henson’s previously good disciplinary record. But a punishment in the region of six to eight weeks will leave the Welshman kicking his heels on the sidelines as his team- mates head down to Twickenham on February 4 to face England in their Six Nations opener.
It is an embarrassing return to the game for Henson, whose last competitive match before the two Leicester games was the second Test between the Lions and New Zealand back in the summer.
It was Henson who pointed the finger at Leicester’s alleged illdiscipline in the match the previous week, calling them ‘cheats’, yet it is he who has fallen foul of the game’s administrators for two acts of stupidity that could now cost him his place in the Wales side.
The citings have overshadowed the off- field accusations that have been flying from both c l u b s s i n c e D a n n y Hipkiss’s injury-time try sealed an incredible win for the Tigers at the Liberty Stadium.
T h e O s p r e y s h a v e branded Leicester a ‘ disgrace’ both on and off the field, while Austin Healey h a s a l r e a d y w a r n e d Henson about what lies in store for him should the sides meet again.
Ospreys managing director Mike Cuddy has accused Tigers forwards coach Richard Cockerill of calling the Ospreys bench ‘f****** w******’ in the immediate aftermath of the 17- 15 defeat, and Cuddy has made his feelings on the ‘ shameful’ incident perfectly clear.
‘ It was a disgrace,’ he s a i d , c l e a r l y d i s a p pointed at Leicester’s reaction to victory. ‘There were children and other members of the public within earshot, yet Cockerill was ranting and raving, calling us names and saying that we only did our talking in the papers while Leicester did theirs on the pitch.
‘Pat Howard, the coach, was on the scene as well. There is always banter in rugby, but this went beyond that. There is no place for that kind of thing. Leicester ought to be ashamed of themselves.’
It is not the first time Cockerill has been involved in public disagreements. In 1997 the fiery former hooker nearly caused an international incident after going forehead-toforehead with All Black hooker Norm Hewitt midway through the pre-match haka.
But as far as Healey is concerned, it is Henson whose behaviour deserves the most c o n d e m n a t i o n a n d h e promised the Welshman that he would face problems if he came up against the Tigers in the near future.
Healey said: ‘ It’s fair to say that if Henson ever plays against us again he is in trouble. You can accept some stuff in rugby, but not an elbow to the face and then a kick to the face. Even if he missed with the kick, he wanted to hit him.’
Ellis will be spending his Christmas break hoping that there is no serious damage to his knee after the stamping incident with Evans. Initial fears suggest Ellis may have damaged his anterior cruciate l i g a m e n t w h i c h w o u l d almost certainly rule him out of Six Nations action for England.
Three players from Saracens’ win over Ulster on Saturday will appear before the same disciplinary hearing as Henson.
Ulster locks Justin Harrison and Matt McCullough plus Saracens prop Kevin Yates have all been cited for punching during a bad- tempered clash at Vicarage Road.
Llanelli Scarlets captain and Ireland flanker Simon Easterby is hoping to be fit for the Six Nations after he was taken to hospital with an eye injury during the defeat at Wasps.