Top 14 Orange
Henson returns to Toulon mix
ESPNscrum Staff
May 5, 2011
Toulon centre Gavin Henson makes a break, Toulon v Stade Francais, Top 14, Stade Felix Mayol, Toulon, France, April 2, 2011
Jonny Wilkinson is ready to welcome Gavin Henson back into the fold © Getty Images
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Controversial Toulon centre Gavin Henson is in line for a swift return to action after being named in the squad to face Montpellier on Saturday.

The Welsh international was handed a one-week ban a fortnight ago for his part in an altercation with team-mates following their Top 14 victory over Toulouse. The 29-year-old, who joined the big-spending French club on a short-term contract in February but has only made two appearances due to injury, looked destined be sacked before being handed a reprieve by club president Mourad Boudjellal and coach Philippe Saint-André.

"I consulted my staff, I consulted the group and I decided to return Gavin Henson to the line-up until the end of the season," Boudjellal said earlier this week. "The group is ready to forget the evening, to make a new start. We were clear that we're not giving him a second chance, we're giving him a final chance. He knows that at the next incident, there won't be any warning shots given before the trigger is pulled."

Henson apologised to the squad on Monday and trained with his team-mates before being named in the 26-man squad set to travel to Montpellier where victory is required to cement the team's place in the play-off picture.

"Henson made a little mistake," said Boudjellal. "He was not the first player at Toulon to be involved in such an incident and he has a second chance to show his talent. We are back to where we were with him just over two weeks ago. He will travel to Montpellier with the squad, although whether he is in the match-day 23 remains to be seen."

Henson is hoping to extend his stay in the south of France and also wants to force his way back into the international set-up ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup. But his desire to add to his 31 Wales caps may hinder his chances of a longer deal with Toulon with Boudjellal keen to secure cover for his World Cup-bound stars such as Jonny Wilkinson and new recruit Matt Giteau.

"We are going to judge him on what has happened here. He was drunk [on the night of the Toulouse game] but quite a few players were," added Boudjellal. "Perhaps someone should have taken him home: we expect players to look after each other.

"He was not the only one at fault: it takes two to have an argument. He is obviously a great player and we just want to move on. We do not know about next year but that is the case with a number of players, not just Gavin."

Toulon squad:

Forwards: Fotunuupule Auelua, Benjamin Basteres, Sébastien Bruno, Kris Chesney, Joe El Abd, Laurent Emmanuelli, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Jean-Philippe Genevois, Carl Hayman, Davit Kubriashvili, Olivier Missoup, Christophe Samson, Dean Schofield, George Smith, Joe Van Niekerk

Backs: Fabien Cibray, Felipe Contepomi, Gavin Henson, Rory Lamont, Benjamin Lapeyre, Christian Loamanu, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Pierre Mignoni, Paul Sackey, Jérémy Sinzelle, Jonny Wilkinson

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