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Gavin Henson looking to be in business before the World Cup
Former Wales star Gavin Henson is hoping to be back in business before the Rugby World Cup… running a newly-bought pub in a tiny Welsh village with a population of less than 800 people.
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It was confirmed on Friday that the 2005 British and Irish Lions player was among the nine-strong contingent of players being released by Dragons, the struggling PRO14 outfit who are set to appoint ex-England International Dean Ryan as their new coach.
Henson’s exit from Rodney Parade is expected to bring the curtain down on the 37-year-old’s full-time professional rugby career which has faded away with a whimper, the out-half appearing just three times this season for the fourth-ranked Welsh region.
It is unclear if he will attempt to continue playing at semi-professional level, possibly in the Welsh Premiership, but what is certain is that Henson is planning for the future away from the game.
Henson reportedly attended a one-day training course on becoming a pub licensee last week and was required to pass an exam after he purchased the freehold of the Fox and Hounds in St Brides Major, a facility that closed last year.
Gavin Henson is becoming the landlord of this beautiful Welsh pub in a big career change https://t.co/3vA9U0eb4t
— WalesOnline 🏴 (@WalesOnline) May 5, 2019
Builders have been busy renovating the pub which is one of only two in a village which recorded a population of 769 people in the last government census.
St Brides Major is near where Henson grew up before going on to have a circuitous club career, the Welsh international featuring at Swansea, Ospreys, Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues, London Welsh, Bath and Bristol before Bernard Jackman gave him a chance at Dragons that resulted in a total of 18 appearances in two seasons at a club that sacked their coach last December.
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Henson’s roster of clubs could have been even longer had he not taken a 21-month sabbatical from playing following the 2009 Six Nations, a lay-off that resulted in him featuring in three reality television series – 71 Degrees North, Strictly Come Dancing and The Bachelor.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments