Gavin Henson
Gavin Henson made his Wales debut against Japan in 2003. A year later, against the same opponents he scored a Welsh record of 14 conversions, from 14 attempts.
Henson has represented Wales at U16, U18, U19 and U21 levels, as well as playing for the Wales Development XV and Wales A sides. He was voted the IRB World Young Player of the Year in 2001, and assisted Wales to an U21 Grand Slam in 2003.
Henson increased his profile during the 2005 RBS Six Nations Grand Slam campaign after scoring a match-winning penalty against England, leading to a British and Irish Lions call-up and a start in the second Test against New Zealand.
Henson joined Swansea straight from Brynteg School, spending a year under Aussie coach John Connolly. Part of the Celtic League title-winning 2004–2005 Ospreys squad, in which he was the League's top points scorer, Henson's versatility has seen him play at 10, 12 and 15.
A call up to the national squad for the 2006 Invesco Perpetual Series saw Henson gain two caps; in the historic draw with Australia, in which he scored a superb long-range penalty, and as a replacement in the loss to the All Blacks in the final game of the series.
2006–2007 saw a niggling knee injury disrupt Henson's domestic rugby season with the Ospreys, and kept him out of the 2007 RBS Six Nations. However, Gareth Jenkins showed his faith in the youngster as he was called into Wales's squad to tour Australia in May 2007; he came on as a 67th minute replacement for try-scorer Jamie Robinson during the first Test in Sydney.
Henson also appeared as a replacement in the second Test following injuries to Chris Czekaj and Jamie Robinson. In June Henson was named in Gareth Jenkins's 41-man preliminary Rugby World Cup 2007 summer training squad but failed to make the final cut following a prolonged period of various injuries and the resultant lack of game time and conditioning.
In November 2007 Henson was called into the Wales team, by Caretaker Coach Nigel Davies, to face world champions South Africa in the inaugural Prince William Cup match at the Millennium Stadium; the clash saw Henson make his first start for Wales since November 2006.
New Wales Coach Warren Gatland named Henson in his 2008 RBS Six Nations Squad, with the centre enjoying a successful tournament as Wales secured the Grand Slam. Henson played in all five victories, and though he picked up a yellow card in the championshp decider against France, maintained his 100% record of winning every RBS Six Nations match played – 10 in total during his international career.
Henson missed the summer tour to South Africa and was ruled out of the autumn series with a niggling injury before dropping out of the game altogether in 2009 due to a self-imposed exile.
