Top 14 Orange
Henson set for Toulon debut
ESPNscrum Staff
April 1, 2011
Saracens centre Gavin Henson takes a breather, Sale Sharks v Saracens, Aviva Premiership, Edgeley Park, Stockport, England, January 2, 2011
Gavin Henson has not played since leaving Saracens © Getty Images
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Gavin Henson will renew his quest for a place in Wales' Rugby World Cup squad on Saturday when he starts his first game for Toulon.

The 29-year-old has revealed that he will start at inside-centre against Stade Francais, ending a long wait for a return to action after a calf problem.

Henson joined the Top 14 big-spenders in February after being released from his contract with Saracens, but the injury, sustained in the English club's Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster, has prevented him from making an impact in France.

With only four regular season games left he is running out of time to secure a long-term deal at the Stade Mayol and influence Warren Gatland's plans for the World Cup.

"I'm starting at 12 this weekend against Stade Francais," he told BBC Wales' Scrum V programme. "I am so happy to be back playing now. I think it's been probably about two years since I started at 12.

"I'm a little bit nervous, going to be excited as well. Can't wait for the game. I'm on trial a little bit, but I'm not going to put pressure on myself.

"I signed for them, but I had to play five or six games to get a two-year contract in place. That is out of the window because I didn't realise my calf injury was as bad as it was. I'm hoping once I play they like what they see and hopefully the contract will be in place.

"My aim is to play four games and if we do get in the play-offs there will be four games again. I absolutely love it down here. I'm so lucky."

Henson has not played for Wales since March 2009 but is hopeful of featuring in their June fixture against the Barbarians or their World Cup warm-up Tests against England (twice) and Argentina.

"I'm aware there are summer internationals with Wales and a World Cup round the corner," he said. "If I manage to start the four games for Toulon I'd like to think that Wales would at least try me out in one of those [summer] games. I still think I have got a chance for the World Cup."

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