‘For the Ospreys, every season is the season’

Ospreys may be serial under-achievers in Europe, but they’re still not a team anybody wants in their pool, says Simon Lewis.

GAVIN HENSON is set for an early exit, according to the bookies, but the current form of the mercurial Welsh back is of no concern to Ospreys head coach Sean Holley. The rugby pitch and not the ballroom floor is the only place that matters to the Welsh region and however their estranged star chooses to spend his time, getting past London Irish, Munster and Toulon is of much more concern than losing out to Ann Widdecombe in Strictly Come Dancing.

When Ospreys visited Thomond Park in September for a Magners League game, Holley was asked for the millionth time about the likelihood of Henson featuring in the Heineken Cup this season. He had crafted his response masterfully.