David Beckham of rugby who dated pop star returns to the sport after FIVE YEARS out – after pulling pints in pub
GAVIN HENSON has returned to playing rugby after FIVE YEARS away from the sport.
The former Wales star left the sport to pull pints in a pub called The Fox in the Vale of Glamorgan alongside his wife Katie Wilson.
Henson, 42, earned 33 caps for his country between 2001 and 2011, in which he scored 130 points.
The fly-half was viewed as the David Beckham of rugby union as he starred for the likes of Llanelli, Swansea RFC, the Ospreys, Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues, London Welsh, Bath, Bristol and the Dragons.
However, he retired in 2019 but has made his return to the sport by playing as an outside-half for boyhood club Pencoed RFC.
He wore the No.10 shirt on Saturday as Pencoed RFC began their season against Heol Y Cyw in the Division Two West Central League.
500 spectators turned out to watch Henson’s return to the field, with reports claiming that the queues to get in were the longest ever.
Pencoed president Terry Rees told Wales Online: “It’s amazing, it’s such an uplift for the club.
“Obviously, the percentage he has put on this crowd… I wouldn’t like to think.
“It’s amazing. He went on to win Wales and British and Irish Lions honours and we are extremely proud of that.”
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Despite kicking a penalty and a conversion, Henson could not help his team avoid a 30-10 defeat.
He said: “I think it is nice to have a break away from it.
Gavin Henson's rugby career
Here is a look at Gavin Henson's career...
Club:
Llanelli, 2000
- Appearances: 1
- Points: 5
Swansea, 2000-2003
- Appearances: 57
- Points: 391
Ospreys, 2003–2009
- Appearances: 98
- Points: 778
Saracens, 2010-2011
- Appearances: 3
- Points: 0
Toulon, 2011
- Appearances: 3
- Points: 5
Cardiff Blues, 2011–2012
- Appearances: 8
- Points: 0
London Welsh, 2012–2013
- Appearances: 9
- Points: 67
Bath, 2013-2015
- Appearances: 35
- Points: 72
Bristol, 2015-2017
- Appearances: 27
- Points: 271
Dragons, 2017-2019
- Appearances: 15
- Points: 98
Pencoed, 2024
- Appearances: 1
- Points: 5
International:
Wales, 2001–2011
- Appearances: 33
- Points: 105
British and Irish Lions, 2005
- Appearances: 1
- Points: 0
“Running a business is quite interesting. It’s pretty similar in some ways and I’m learning a lot.
“I’m hoping to get back in the gym at some point, and I’m thinking of starting a pre-season with Pencoed, the team I started with.
“It would be nice to give something back to them.”
During his career, Henson helped Wales to win Grand Slams in the 2005 and 2008 Six Nations.
He also joined the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand.
Hanson also found himself in the headlines due to his relationship with pop star Charlotte Church.
He started dating the Welsh singer-songwriter in 2005 but separated in 2010.