Gavin Henson sacked by Cardiff Blues for 'unacceptable' behaviour on flight from Glasgow

First topic message reminder :

Sacked.

Shame really.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17575844

So why quote a probability then?

You also missed out the 9th possibility, pigs flying past Gavin Henson and chucking ice cubes at him.

Just so long as you welshies are honest enough to acknowledge your part in this.

It was too much too soon for a young player. All that welsh adoration. All that welsh hype. The guy was a big fish in a tiny pond and in his case of course it went to his head. Of course he was arrogant. Just look at the way he carried himself. He is a clown off the field.

The welsh are all complicit in this sorry tale. The media too but the welsh bought the papers and the glossy mags that henson loved to appear in so much. The welsh watched the gavtv shows too.

At the end of the day it is a shame that a genuinely very talented player is lost to the game.

Let it be a lesson though. Next time a talent welsh player comes along try not to fall overselves to adulate him quite so much.

An Ulster player was given a one-match ban (internally, by the club) after getting drunk and reportedly pissing in a taxi after the game against Treviso the weekend before last. Said player didn't make the 22 against Aironi as a result of the ban, but is named in the extended squad for the big game against Munster.

He's lucky he isn't Gavin Henson! In that he's not a 'celebrity' and he doesn't have a track record of this sort of behaviour. But also that there are plenty of professional players who have done quite stupid things on the batter all around the rugby scene in Britain and Ireland and have received no more than a slap on the wrist.

Ok, these are often exceptions whilst Gav seems to transgress again and again. And you'd think the guy had learned he needs to keep his nose clean by now. But to be honest it seems like the Blues have spied an opportunity to save themselves some money on his contract and taken it.

Triangulation wrote:Just so long as you welshies are honest enough to acknowledge your part in this.

It was too much too soon for a young player. All that welsh adoration. All that welsh hype. The guy was a big fish in a tiny pond and in his case of course it went to his head. Of course he was arrogant. Just look at the way he carried himself. He is a clown off the field.

The welsh are all complicit in this sorry tale. The media too but the welsh bought the papers and the glossy mags that henson loved to appear in so much. The welsh watched the gavtv shows too.

At the end of the day it is a shame that a genuinely very talented player is lost to the game.

Let it be a lesson though. Next time a talent welsh player comes along try not to fall overselves to adulate him quite so much.

I know that in Wales we're only "a tiny pond" compared with most countries. But there's still 3 million of us - we'd fill 36.5 Twickenham stadiums - so saying that "the welsh are all complicit in this sorry tale" is a just a bit presumptious.

Triangulation wrote:Just so long as you welshies are honest enough to acknowledge your part in this.

It was too much too soon for a young player. All that welsh adoration. All that welsh hype. The guy was a big fish in a tiny pond and in his case of course it went to his head. Of course he was arrogant. Just look at the way he carried himself. He is a clown off the field.

The welsh are all complicit in this sorry tale. The media too but the welsh bought the papers and the glossy mags that henson loved to appear in so much. The welsh watched the gavtv shows too.

At the end of the day it is a shame that a genuinely very talented player is lost to the game.

Let it be a lesson though. Next time a talent welsh player comes along try not to fall overselves to adulate him quite so much.

This theory falls on stoney ground

The Irish adore BOD, the England fell at the feet of the demi-god Wilko, hell even us Scots have slobbered over the odd one or two.... Gav (Hastings) springs to mind.............. did they fall off the wagon?

I would suggest only a certain mindset blindly adore the Orange one, you'll find them always out on a 6Ns event and rarely at any regional games, you'll find them out in the local mid-town high streets on chilly Saturday evenings all perma-tanned, big armed in short tee-shirts, drinking their 20th bud, and their female equivalents pink cowboy hats put away until the next 6Ns "outing"

Of course you have certain posters who looking back at their "naturally true world talent" comments (from the old 606 site etc) have come back now to haunt them and bite them on the derriere............ although you find that they have long changed their user names or have now changed back to watching footie

Quite a lot of fans and posters never actually got entangled in this "waste of talents" sensational antics whether on the field (the very very few games he actually had MOM for) or his off the field commercial enterprises.

The Henson case is very different to most. He was taken on on a trail basis on a temporary contract. For a reason, there were clear reservations about him.

He hasnt shown the professionalism and dedication he promised he would, you can hardly blame the club for not trusting this or worse wont happen again and thinking that he isnt as dedicated as he should be.

Im sure had it been Sam Warburton being led astray by a large group of senior players then they wouldve been more lenient. But it wasnt, it was one guy who stayed up all night and kept drinking on the plane who was in effect on probation in the first place.

Hes been in trouble several times for this before, and most likely theres other incidences that have gone unreported. What sticks out for me is that this wasnt a team thing, it was an individual unable to know when to stop when the others had.

Apologies for repeating this if it's already been touched upon, but did anyone read what Lyn Jones had to say?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17595324

For those who don't know, Jones coached Gavin at the Ospreys for five years from 2003. I just think Jones puts a more human spin on things, as he would I suppose knowing Gavin from the beginning for a while. A lot of people are knocking Gavin for blowing his chances, being an egotist etc, but I'm beginning to wonder if he's got some mental health issues? For all we know, he could be really insecure and feeling under pressure from himself because he can't maintain what he once had? We don't know what goes on in people's minds and the most confident, arrogant person can be incredibly self destructive and self-critical. Maybe Gavin just hasn't got the right people/person around him to get him out of it. I know he's had many chances with decent clubs, but that could've piled on the pressure more? I'm just guessing...

As far as his career is concerned. I think he needs a break from mainstream rugby altogether - maybe a stint at London Welsh with Jones would be beneficial, but they say he's unaffordable! Anyway, he needs to get out of the public eye completely. How he does that...well, who knows...

Incidentally, before anyone thinks I'm just being sympathetic with Gavin because of where he's from, I did say the same thing about Danny Care and his issues with alcohol. Someone mentioned Gazza earlier - look at the problems he's had with his mental health and alcohol addiction. Sadly we all find out about it too late for some.

flyhalffactory wrote:

Triangulation wrote:Just so long as you welshies are honest enough to acknowledge your part in this.

It was too much too soon for a young player. All that welsh adoration. All that welsh hype. The guy was a big fish in a tiny pond and in his case of course it went to his head. Of course he was arrogant. Just look at the way he carried himself. He is a clown off the field.

The welsh are all complicit in this sorry tale. The media too but the welsh bought the papers and the glossy mags that henson loved to appear in so much. The welsh watched the gavtv shows too.

At the end of the day it is a shame that a genuinely very talented player is lost to the game.

Let it be a lesson though. Next time a talent welsh player comes along try not to fall overselves to adulate him quite so much.

This theory falls on stoney ground

The Irish adore BOD, the England fell at the feet of the demi-god Wilko, hell even us Scots have slobbered over the odd one or two.... Gav (Hastings) springs to mind.............. did they fall off the wagon?

I would suggest only a certain mindset blindly adore the Orange one, you'll find them always out on a 6Ns event and rarely at any regional games, you'll find them out in the local mid-town high streets on chilly Saturday evenings all perma-tanned, big armed in short tee-shirts, drinking their 20th bud, and their female equivalents pink cowboy hats put away until the next 6Ns "outing"

Of course you have certain posters who looking back at their "naturally true world talent" comments (from the old 606 site etc) have come back now to haunt them and bite them on the derriere............ although you find that they have long changed their user names or have now changed back to watching footie

Quite a lot of fans and posters never actually got entangled in this "waste of talents" sensational antics whether on the field (the very very few games he actually had MOM for) or his off the field commercial enterprises.

as the say on Bloomberg "According to sources familiar with the issue" the guy has been the same all his life before he was famous - not liked by many off the pitch because he's too c0cky and tells it as he sees it - mixed that with alcohol and bingo!

Nothing to do with Wales I'm afraid triangular - unless everyone was there throughout his school years.

cari, im not sure henson does need to get out of the spot light. i think part of the problems at the blues (spit) is that he has been kept in the shade.

henson could have become a fantastic center over the last few months, or even a decent stand-in 10. he wasnt given the chance, and he has been dumped at the first jolt.

this guy was trying to rebuild his career and all the blues (spit) have done is hold him back

shouldnt this be in the club section?

Peter Thomas on the issue:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17637083

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/04/06/cardiff-blues-chief-peter-thomas-hits-out-at-critics-over-gavin-henson-sacking-91466-30703646/

Ruddock:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17601971

Even yoghurts hate Henson now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17626218

From The Peter Thomas article:

"Sponsors don't want to be associated with teams whose players behave inappropriately

There you go, end of the day it comes down to economics. The Blues cant afford passenger player who could cost them sponsorship deals.

Others would have to pay millions from the free PR Thomas gets from the Western Fail. Even then he comes out looking spiteful, petty and unwilling/able to accept any responsibility.

Yeah righto Pieman. His quote about if any other player had done similar then they'd get the same treatment is laughable. Why hasn't Sweeney been released early then? Why hasn't Tom James been binned?

I agree Glas, that Pieman is not taking any responsibility. Mentioning Lyn Jones and that train incident. Laughable.

Blues not happy with Lyn Jones' input...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17637083

Sets the Blues/O's derby up nicely....

The train incident and throwing ice cubs were ef all. There has been worse throughout Welsh rugby; Phillips fighting with bouncers outside McDonalds Cardiff, Sweeney/James incident, Powell driving a golfbuggy down the M4 (although funny). Lyn Jones and Ruddock are correct in my opinion.

I think the Blues management are just miffed because they were criticised for the way in which they handled the situation. What happened to Sweeney and James anyway? Never heard more about that....

There should be one rule for everyone, not when it suits an agenda. Blues needed to cut down their wage bill, Gavin doing what he did allowed them to release him early from his contract, saving them a bit of money till the end of the season without Blues fans criticising them for not playing him.

Blues are a sinking ship at the moment and need a drastic overhaul to prevent it from going out of existence. It's amazing the differences we see between the international game (Which is flourishing and positive) and regional rugby (crippling financial situation, players leaving and poor crowds).

Surely the real question is not "should they have sacked Henson?" but "should they have been stupid enough to employ him in the first place?"

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Surely the real question is not "should they have sacked Henson?" but "should they have been stupid enough to employ him in the first place?"

I'll say nothing on that just in case the Dragons give him another last chance.