Henson was granted a release from his contract with Premiership side Saracens © PA Photos

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Players/Officials: Gavin Henson

Tournaments/Tours: Top 14 Orange

Teams: France | Saracens | Toulon | Wales

Top 14 giants Toulon have confirmed the capture of Welsh playmaker Gavin Henson from Premiership side Saracens on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The 29-year-old international, who was unveiled at the Toulon training ground on Thursday morning, has been signed as a 'medical joker' for Clément Marienval, who has been ruled out for the season by injury. The big-spending club are also currently without fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who is on Six Nations duty with England, and Argentinian international Felipe Contepomi, who is also sidelined through injury.

The news comes as a major surprise, with the 31-cap centre having made just four appearances for Saracens since making his debut as a replacement against Wasps on Boxing Day at Wembley. Henson ended 21 months in self-imposed exile at the end of last year by securing a move from the Ospreys to Saracens until the end of the current campaign.

But he has seen his opportunities limited at the Watford-based club due to injury and the form of team-mates Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt and issued a request to be released from his contract earlier this week. "It was just a massive opportunity for me. I couldn't really pass up on it," Henson told BBC Wales and he could make his Toulon debut as early as February 11 against Brive after recovering from a calf injury.

"That was part of the decision when I spoke to [coach] Philippe [Saint-Andre]," added Henson. "I said: 'I want to play 12' and he said he would use me a 12 and wanted me to start straight away. He said: 'while Jonny [Wilkinson] isn't [here] we haven't got a back-up 10' so I can obviously fill in as a back-up 10.

"Hopefully I can do that soon against Brive next week. If I'm any good and just hopefully wait for a Welsh call-up at some point if they need me. The calf is ready to go now. It's nearly three weeks. It feels fine so I'll be ready to go on Monday [in training]."

Henson also revealed that should he prove his fitness an earn a recall to the international set-up then Toulon would not stand in his way. "Toulon are keen for me to play for my country. They are happy with that," said Henson. "Obviously if I'm playing for my country I'm playing well. So that works for them. So I will be released [to Wales] for all games and all training.

"Obviously I haven't been playing enough rugby and the form isn't there yet, so I can't expect to be called in with Wales yet. So I just hope to play regular rugby with Toulon now and see what comes of it. Toulon won't stand in the way of Welsh honours."

Saracens wished the player well on his departure for pastures new. "Over the last couple of days I think Gavin and his representatives have been in discussion with Toulon," Sarries chief executive Edward Griffiths told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We try to create a club where we ensure the best possible environment for every player. And if every player believes his career is going to be taken forward somewhere else then we're going to respect that. This is the way it's turned out, which in a sense is unfortunate, but there's no hard feelings and we wish him all the best."

Henson joins a growing Welsh contingent who will ply their trade in France. Former Ospreys team-mates James Hook and Lee Byrne have recently confirmed their moves to Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne respective