Wilkinson and Henson played alongside each other during the British & Irish Lions' tour to New Zealand in 2005 © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Gavin Henson | Jonny Wilkinson

Tournaments/Tours: Top 14 Orange

Teams: France | Toulon

Toulon star Jonny Wilkinson has rolled out the welcome mat to new signing Gavin Henson but urged the Welshman to make the most of the move.

Henson, 29, last week signed a short-term deal with the big-spending French club after making just four appearances in a brief and unsuccessful spell with Saracens. Toulon moved for the former Wales international to strengthen their fly-half and inside centre options, with Wilkinson currently on Six Nations duty, Felipe Contepomi injured and Clément Marienval recently ruled out for the season - also by injury.

Henson will not be available to play in Toulon's Heineken Cup quarter-final having already appeared in the competition for Saracens but he will charged with boosting their bid to reach the Top 14 play-offs while the player himself is hoping to further his World Cup hopes. Wilkinson's injury-plagued career has been revived since his move to Toulon but his upturn in fortunes was rooted in a dedication to his sport and the region - something he has urged Henson to learn from.

"I can't impress upon you enough what a change to my life living in France has made. I'm sure the move to France will have the same positive effect on Gavin," said Wilkinson. "It is an exciting time for him. We have a great team spirit in Toulon. While supporting him massively they'll ask for a huge input from him, which is exactly what you want as a rugby player.

"The onus is very much on the player. The opportunity to enjoy it, to learn and broaden your horizons is there but it comes down to what you want to make of it. You have to make a decision when you go there how much you will embrace the culture and the language. You can choose to have the whole experience and get the very best out of it or you decide to go there and hang in.

"Some people have gone there and not enjoyed it because they haven't understood what was needed on the field. If you get to grips with that you'll realise there is great support out there in a fabulous region. If he enjoys it even half as much as I have he'll have a great time."

Henson spent 20 months out of the game on unpaid leave from the Ospreys before negotiating a deal with Saracens, to begin once he had been voted off the television show Strictly Come Dancing. Saracens chief executive Ed Griffiths said the club had done everything they could to create the right environment for Henson - but they would not play him at inside centre. As a result Henson was frustrated at being unable to run in his preferred position.

"I am looking forward to playing with him. We have a good end to the season in prospect," Wilkinson said. "We are desperate to achieve something this year so there'll be some big pressure games and those are the memories you want.

"After playing with him on the Lions tour [in 2005] I know Gavin is hugely talented. He was outstanding and I managed to play with him in the Test," Wilkinson said. "He is a hugely talented player, quite unique in some ways in what he has to his game. His long-kicking game mixed with his power and aggression and his defence and creativity - he's got all the skills. For a team like Toulon this is a good thing. You can put him in any situation and he'll find his way out of it."

Wilkinson, whose penalty sealed England a 26-19 victory over Wales in Cardiff, has placed his international future at risk by signing a new deal with Toulon. The Rugby Football Union plan to select the national squad from England-based teams after the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

"My desire to play for England is still as great as it was when I won my first cap. It has been an interesting journey for me and I've learnt that if I want to play rugby I can only play it one way or I don't play it at all," Wilkinson explained. "It means everything has to be my best. It would mean a huge amount to me to play in a fourth World Cup [ after those in 1999, 2003 and 2007]. I'm in it for the long run and I will give it all I've got and nothing less."