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Last chance saloon: Gavin Henson
Photo: Eoin Mundow/Cleva Media |
Toulon head coach Philippe Saint-André has
likened Gavin Henson's one week suspension to taking
"a yellow card, not a red one".
Henson was "reintegrated" to the Toulon squad on Monday
after club owner Mourad Boudjellal made a u-turn on his
original decision to sack the Welsh star.
Boudjellal claimed he had changed his mind after a period of
reflection, enabling Henson to return to action - until the
end of the current season at least.
Henson had put his short-term contract in jeopardy after a
nightclub bust-up with team-mates following the team's Top
14 victory over Stade Toulousain.
The former Ospreys international had just completed only his
second game for Toulon after signing in February on a
short-term contract until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old enjoyed an impressive match and spoke
afterwards of his determination and desire to earn himself a
longer deal at the Cote d'Azur club.
But that was before the reported dust-up - which was
apparently sparked by criticism of club captain Joe Van
Niekerk and club icon Jonny Wilkinson.
French media reported that Henson had been sacked last week,
but - for whatever reason - the Welsh international has now
been granted a second chance to impress both Toulon and his
national coach Warren Gatland as he tries to get earn
himself a spot in Wales' World Cup squad.
Saint-André was non-committal about Toulon's longer term
plans for Henson, with previous reports having indicated the
club was unlikely to offer him a new contract as he is
likely to be unavailable for the first three months of
2011/12 due to World Cup duties - if selected.
"He will be here for the rest of the season, after that we
will see," said Saint-André this week.
Boudjellal said that initial reports about the alleged
nightclub confrontation had been one-sided and that he had
made his final decision after hearing both sides of the
story.
"I had decided to release him, but it was necessary to have
a moment of reflection after new elements [came to light],"
he confirmed. "I consulted my staff and the team and I
decided to reintegrate Gavin Henson until the end of the
season.
"The new elements show that the blame is not all on one
side. He seemed to be truly sorry and really wanted to stay
with Toulon and to give his all. We are giving him a second
chance, we are giving him a last chance," said Boudjellal.
Wilkinson, meanwhile, has welcomed
Henson's Toulon reprieve, playing down reports that the
Welsh star is unpopular at the Cote d'Azur club.
The England World Cup winner said
Henson and the squad had now moved on following Boudjellal's decision to offer him a second chance,
adding that he player had apologized
fully to the squad. "Gavin said to the guys that that wasn't
the true Gavin speaking. he showed his true feelings to us
and said that he was sorry. The perpetrator in it all was
drink, I guess," Wilkinson told The Daily Telegraph.
Wilkinson confirmed he had not been
present at the reported flare-up, but described it as a
"difficult evening".
"I've spent good times with Gavin here,
enjoyed training with him," insisted Wilkinson. "As for the
remarks, well, then he wouldn't be the only person thinking
like that round the world, and rightly so. I've always said
I get too much praise," he added.
The Toulon fly-half went on to stress
that what had happened was now consigned to the history
books, with no lingering resentment. "These sort of things
happen, whether the chemistry goes a bit wrong briefly or
there's a misunderstanding or whatever. All the guys just
want to get on and move on.
"Everyone understands that this is all
part of the search for that team spirit and togetherness.
This is a squad of many types of nationalities and
characters. That's what makes it special. And team spirit is
so crucial to having success. You can't just go out and get
the best players in the world, stick them in a changing room
with a few notes and a rugby ball, then expect them to go
out and it will all click.
"There has to be a chemistry, a spirit,
especially I think in French rugby, if it's all to work. And
it does here at Toulon. The boys will be fine with Gavin.
They will do whatever they can to help him get what he needs
and what he deserves out of this. He's definitely keen to do
the same for Toulon," said Wilkinson.
