Gavin Henson facts for kids
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| Birth name | Gavin Lloyd Henson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 1 February 1982 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pencoed, Mid Glamorgan, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Plas-y-Felin Primary School, Brynteg Comprehensive, Bridgend, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league career
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Playing information
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Gavin Lloyd Henson (born 1 February 1982) is a Welsh former professional rugby union player. He played in different positions like fly-half, fullback, and inside centre.
From 2000 to 2019, Gavin played for many clubs. These included Llanelli, Swansea RFC, the Ospreys, Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues, London Welsh, Bath, Bristol, and the Dragons.
He played 33 times for the Wales national team and once for the British & Irish Lions. He was part of the Wales team that won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship in 2005 and 2008. He also played for the British & Irish Lions during their 2005 tour to New Zealand.
Since 2010, Gavin has appeared on several TV shows. These include 71 Degrees North, Strictly Come Dancing, The Bachelor, and Celebrity Hunted. In 2021, he started playing rugby league for West Wales Raiders.
Contents
Gavin Henson's Rugby Journey
Early Career at Llanelli RFC: 2000
Gavin Henson played only one game for Llanelli RFC. This was in May 2000 against the Border Reivers. He played as a fly-half and scored 5 points.
Playing for Swansea and Ospreys: 2000–2009
Gavin was born in Pencoed and played rugby for his school, Brynteg Comprehensive. At 18, he joined Swansea RFC. In 2001, he won the International Rugby Board's Young Player of the Year award.
He started his international career by playing for the Wales A team. His first game for Wales was in June 2001 against Japan. He came on as a substitute in that match. Later, he started a game against Romania in September 2001. In November of that year, he scored his first international try for Wales A against Uruguay.
In 2003, Welsh rugby changed to a regional system. Gavin then joined the Ospreys. He played his first game for them in September 2003, scoring two tries and kicking a penalty and conversion for 15 points. He also played for Wales again in 2003, appearing in two matches.
Gavin became more well-known in 2004. He played strongly in Wales' autumn international games against New Zealand and South Africa. He became a key player for Wales, often playing in the centre position.
He continued to play for Wales in the 2005 Six Nations Championship. In the first game against England, Gavin played very well. He made important tackles and kicked a 48-meter penalty that won the match. He was named man of the match. With his club, the Ospreys, he helped them win the Celtic League cup in 2005. In the final game, he scored 24 of his team's 29 points.
In the summer of 2005, Gavin was chosen for the Lions squad to tour New Zealand. He was disappointed not to play in the first game. He was picked for the second game but got injured. A groin injury also delayed his return to club rugby later that year.
Gavin's book, My Grand Slam Year, was published in October 2005. He was not chosen for the Wales squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. This was because he was recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
He returned to the Welsh squad after the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He played in all of Wales' 2008 Six Nations Championship games. Wales went on to win the Grand Slam for the second time in four seasons. Gavin's first Six Nations loss as a starter was in March 2009 when Ireland beat Wales.
Taking a Break from Rugby: 2009–2010
In July 2009, there were reports that Gavin planned to stop playing rugby. However, he and the Ospreys quickly said this was not true. Gavin explained he was having trouble with an injury but had no plans to quit.
Returning to the Field: 2010–2019
On 27 October 2010, the Ospreys announced that Gavin would leave his contract. He would return to rugby with the English club Saracens. Gavin had not played professional rugby for 18 months before this. He joined Saracens in October 2010 and played his first game in December 2010. After playing four games, he left Saracens in February 2011.
The same day, he signed a five-month contract with RC Toulonnais in France. In April 2011, he was suspended for two weeks after an incident. However, he was later allowed back into the team. In May 2011, he was released by RC Toulonnais.
In June 2011, Gavin played his first game for Wales in two years against the Barbarians. He played well, though Wales lost the match. He was then named in the preliminary squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In August 2011, he dislocated his wrist during a warm-up game against England. This injury meant he could not play in the World Cup pool stages.
In October 2011, Gavin signed with the Cardiff Blues. In April 2012, his contract was ended by the club.
In July 2012, London Welsh signed Gavin for the 2012/13 season. In June 2013, he announced he would leave London Welsh to join Bath. He said he wanted to play at the highest level and was excited to join Bath.
Gavin's form improved while playing for Bath. He played important roles in the centre position. He reportedly turned down an offer from the Newport Gwent Dragons to extend his contract with Bath.
In January 2015, it was announced that Gavin would leave Bath to join RFU Championship side Bristol. He was released early from his Bath contract in February to join Bristol.
In March 2017, Gavin returned to Wales to sign a two-year contract with the Dragons.
International Tries
Gavin Henson scored three tries for Wales in international matches.
| Try | Opponent | Location | Venue | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Africa |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 6 November 2004 | Loss |
| 2 | |||||
| 3 |  Romania |
Cardiff, Wales | Millennium Stadium | 12 November 2004 | Win |
Rugby League Career
After leaving the Dragons in 2019, Gavin retired from rugby union. In September 2020, it was announced that he was joining the rugby league team West Wales Raiders. This team plays in the third tier of rugby league.
He played his first game for them in March 2021 in a Challenge Cup match.
Gavin Henson in Popular Media
In September 2010, Gavin appeared on the ITV show 71 Degrees North, a challenge series set in Norway. He finished in second place. He then competed on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, partnered with Katya Virshilas. In August 2011, he starred in The Bachelor on Channel 5. On this show, young women competed to win his attention.
Gavin is mentioned in the 2010 parody song "Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind)".
Personal Life
Gavin Henson has two children from a previous relationship. In 2011, he chose Carianne Barrow to be his girlfriend on the TV show The Bachelor. They later separated in March 2012.
On 28 September 2019, Gavin married his long-term partner Katie Wilson Mould. They had their first child together, a son, in December 2020. In May 2019, Gavin became the landlord of a pub called The Fox and Hounds, which he later shortened to The Fox.
Television Appearances
- 71 Degrees North (ITV, 2010)
- Strictly Come Dancing (BBC, 2010)
- The Bachelor (Channel 5, 2011)
- Hunted (Channel 4, 2019)
See also
In Spanish: Gavin Henson para niños
