Cardiff Blues sacking puts Henson’s career in jeopardy

Gavin Henson’s rugby career could be over after he was sacked by the Cardiff Blues following his drunken behaviour on a flight back from Glasgow on Saturday morning.

The 33-cap Wales centre, 30, had already been suspended by the club due to his antics as the Blues returned home after their 31-3 hammering at the hands of the Warriors in Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter.

Henson subsequently issued an apology for his behaviour and admitted he had been out drinking following the match and had continued to drink on the flight.

But his appearance as a replacement against Glasgow was his eighth and last for the Blues, as his contract was terminated following a meeting of the club’s management yesterday morning.

And the question must now be whether another club will be willing to take a chance on the British and Irish Lion.

The airline Flybe had launched their own investigation into the incident, and they confirmed that Henson has been banned from using their services for six months as a result of his actions.

A company spokes-person said: “The safety of our passengers and staff is Flybe’s number one priority and as such the airline has a zero-tolerance attitude to unruly behaviour on board our aircraft.

“We are grateful for Mr Henson’s apology following Saturday’s flight from Glasgow to Cardiff.”

“However, in line with company policy, we have written to him, informing him that he will be banned from Flybe services for a period of six months.”

The Blues were Henson’s fourth club in little over a year after being released by the Ospreys and having short stints at Saracens and Toulon.

His spell in France was also marred by an alcohol-related incident, with the club suspending him for a week after a nightclub altercation with two team-mates.

Despite not having a club, Henson won his first Wales cap for over two years in the defeat to the Barbarians last May and was named in coach Warren Gatland’s provisional World Cup squad, only for a wrist injury suffered in the warm-up win over England to end his aspirations.

There had been glimpses of his best form in that fixture, and it was enough to convince the Blues to take a chance, but that opportunity to revive his career has now been ended following the events of the weekend.