Will Henson ever return to Ospreys colours? © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Henson to make comeback with Barbarians

News: Booth admits interest in Henson

News: Henson pleads for Ospreys release

News: Edwards pours cold water on Henson move

News: Henson wants out of Ospreys

News: Roberts questions Henson campaign

News: Henson dances away from return

News: Henson eyes World Cup return

Players/Officials: Shaun Edwards | Gavin Henson

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Ospreys | Wales | Wasps

Wasps boss Tony Hanks has slammed rumours linking absent Ospreys star Gavin Henson with a move to the Aviva Premiership club.

Henson, who has not played for 18 months and has been signed up to appear on reality TV show Strictly Come Dancing from next month, has been the subject of widespread speculation suggesting a switch to England was imminent but Hanks has rubbished reports that an approach has been made and that a deal to acquire the 28-year-old was in the pipeline.

"We haven't signed Gavin Henson, we are not in any negotiations with Gavin Henson and I do not expect him to be at this club this season," a riled Hanks told the Daily Mirror ahead of his win-less side's bid to get off the mark in this season's Premiership against Leicester on Saturday.

"Would I know about it if anyone else in the club had signed him? Absolutely. Do I think that would happen? No I don't. I have become irritated by this. As far as I'm aware the guy's doing some dancing and he's under contract at Ospreys. There are 35 guys in our squad who deserve our attention and time. We should be talking about them. Guys like Tom Varndell and Dan Ward-Smith, who have committed for two more years here. To be honest, I'd rather do that."

A newspaper report last week reported Henson, who has been on unpaid leave for over a year, had instructed his lawyers to negotiate his exit from Ospreys with a two-year contract plus a six-figure transfer fee from Wasps in the equation - a claim labelled by Hanks as "unbelievable".

Wasps coach Shaun Edwards echoed his director of rugby's comments, insisting his club were not in the business of poaching players - especially those, like Henson, who are under contract with their current clubs.

"Do we negotiate with someone contracted to another club? No we don't," said Edwards - who is also an assistant coach with Wales. "Nor are we in a position to pay transfer fees. Our owner has spent £4million up to the salary cap and we are grateful for that." As to whether Wasps would look to sign Henson for next season, when his Ospreys deal expires, Edwards said: "I've no idea and haven't thought that far ahead."

Hanks added, "I'm more concerned with retaining what we've already got. At Christmas we'll have a look at where our holes are and at what's around. You're never going to say never to any players. But I'd like to give some of our guys a bit of an opportunity first to show that there are good players here at Wasps."

Ospreys director of rugby Scott Johnson has recommend that the Ospreys board hold stay-Henson to his contract. It's a two-party agreement and nobody put a gun to anybody's head to sign," the director of coaching told the BBC's Scrum V. "In Gavin's case he should honour his part of that deal too and I'll be encouraging the Ospreys to do that."