Henson signs for London Welsh

**TRF_Ezequiel** · 09-07-12, 09:40 PM

The move reunites the 30-year-old with former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones, under whom he won two Celtic League titles (2005 and 2007) during their five-year spell together at the Ospreys.
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883...884459,00.html

**Forum Ad** · 09-07-12 09:40 PM

**TRF_Olyy** · 09-07-12, 09:48 PM

I think this has been mentioned in every thread on the forum today, makes sense for it to have one of it's own

**TRF_Ezequiel** · 09-07-12, 09:55 PM

It's just one of those signings that needs it's own thread

**lucky number 7** · 09-07-12, 10:07 PM

Exactly what that club needs ..A dancer.

**living sacrifice** · 10-07-12, 07:12 AM

I wonder what position he will play there? From my understanding they had quite a good 10 and 12 (obviously not Henson standard though).

**irelandfan123** · 10-07-12, 12:11 PM

You ask me he doesn't deserve to breathe the air in a professional rugby stadium again, unless he was spectating

**heineken** · 10-07-12, 12:15 PM

What is it with struggling teams wearing red and this guy?

Haven't they learnt their lesson??

**Feicarsinn** · 10-07-12, 01:17 PM

I hope he does well. He's a fool, but at least he's a talented fool.

**dullonien** · 10-07-12, 01:30 PM

Plenty of players done much worse off the field than Henson, yet don't seem to receive the same abuse. Yes, he's a bit of a fool, but by all accounts the worst he's done is throw a few ice cubes about. There have been plenty of other players convected of assault etc.

**heineken** · 10-07-12, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by dullonien

Plenty of players done much worse off the field than Henson, yet don't seem to receive the same abuse. Yes, he's a bit of a fool, but by all accounts the worst he's done is throw a few ice cubes about. There have been plenty of other players convected of assault etc.

True, but at least they did it in an acceptable skin colour...

Orange is not one of them...

**j'nuh** · 10-07-12, 02:54 PM

I think it's a good move. The controversy and the lack of him getting chances elsewhere probably knock his wage a little, and it's his last chance, so that has to be motivation enough. (And from the sound of it, he was getting his head down at the Blues, but was mistreated by management.) And if it doesn't work out, at least he can be used as a promotional tool.

**bushytop** · 10-07-12, 04:12 PM

Saw him have a few decent outings in the centre for the blues, with some deft touches and solid defence but then he got shunted back to fullback and everything started going wrong from there.

Think its a good move for both parties.

**TRF_Cymro** · 10-07-12, 04:26 PM

I think he's likely to switch between 10 and 12 for London Welsh.

**dullonien** · 10-07-12, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by TRF_Cymro

I think he's likely to switch between 10 and 12 for London Welsh.

It's the only positions Lyn played him at for the Ospreys (might have been one or two fullback appearances, but not many from what I recall). I'd guess that Lyn will start him at 12, where there's less pressure, then try him at 10 after he looks up to speed. Is Sonny Parker likely to be the first choice 13? If so, Henson and Parker played alongside each other plenty of times in the centre for the Ospreys, so should understand each other quite well.

**TRF_Olyy** · 10-07-12, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by dullonien

Plenty of players done much worse off the field than Henson, yet don't seem to receive the same abuse. Yes, he's a bit of a fool, but by all accounts the worst he's done is throw a few ice cubes about. There have been plenty of other players convected of assault etc.

Aye, people go really over the top with Henson.

**Feicarsinn** · 10-07-12, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by dullonien

It's the only positions Lyn played him at for the Ospreys (might have been one or two fullback appearances, but not many from what I recall). I'd guess that Lyn will start him at 12, where there's less pressure, then try him at 10 after he looks up to speed. Is Sonny Parker likely to be the first choice 13? If so, Henson and Parker played alongside each other plenty of times in the centre for the Ospreys, so should understand each other quite well.

That's quite a lethal centre pairing I must say.

It's still 2006 right?

**michaelbolton** · 10-07-12, 05:17 PM

http://www.skysports.com/video/inlin...887310,00.html

**dullonien** · 10-07-12, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by TRF_Feicarsinn

That's quite a lethal centre pairing I must say.

It's still 2006 right?

Good enough for the Aviva.......

**psychic duck** · 10-07-12, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by dullonien

Plenty of players done much worse off the field than Henson, yet don't seem to receive the same abuse. Yes, he's a bit of a fool, but by all accounts the worst he's done is throw a few ice cubes about. There have been plenty of other players convected of assault etc.

That is easy to work and explain.

1. He's a very good player when at his best, yet has messed up several times and frustrated fans, most of whom can't understand why somebody so skilled has wasted over 50% of his prime rugby playing days by doing silly immature incidents. Nobody really cares if a player like Cai Griffiths messed up getting drunk off the field as he is rubbish, but Henson has great skills and everybody apart from Mathew Tait wants to see him doing what he made his name for.

2. His orangeness and celebrity wannabe image makes him an easy target to take the piss.

3. He has repeated his same mistakes over and over for years, and has never learnt, despite now being in his thirties.

Originally Posted by dullonien

It's the only positions Lyn played him at for the Ospreys (might have been one or two fullback appearances, but not many from what I recall). I'd guess that Lyn will start him at 12, where there's less pressure, then try him at 10 after he looks up to speed. Is Sonny Parker likely to be the first choice 13? If so, Henson and Parker played alongside each other plenty of times in the centre for the Ospreys, so should understand each other quite well.

Henson always seemed to miss a lot of matches for the Ospreys for numerous reasons, in his last two active seasons with the Ospreys he only made 13 starts in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. 11 of those starts at 12, and 2 of the starts at 15. He stopped playing 10 much after the Ireland vs Wales disaster of a substitute appearance there in 2006. The Ospreys never played him there after 2006.

Surely the younger James Lewis or Hudson Tonga'uiha (Soane's brother) would be his centre partner by the way. Sonny Parker is 35 and spent last season third choice 13 behind Tom Isaacs, who is hardly that amazing.

**j'nuh** · 10-07-12, 07:36 PM

tbf on Henson, when he quit he was in an almost continuous struggle with injuries. Reports were saying that his heart wasn't in the game. I don't begrudge anyone for leaving the game for personal reasons because really sports isn't that important that someone should risk their mental health for it. Since coming back to the game, he's had his split with his wife. He needs to get his head in the right place, and I think a club like London Welsh is a good place for him to go and do this.

If we didn't already have so many centers at Gloucester, I would have been very happy to see him at Kingsholm.

**TRF_Cymro** · 10-07-12, 08:07 PM

I dunno where people are getting that Sonny Parker will be starting, from what I gather he was signed to start / rotate in the Championship (when he was signed, prior to promotion) but he is very much likely to rotate at 13 with the likes of Hudson Tong and Lewis, although Lewis is not that spectacular.

**TVH11** · 10-07-12, 10:33 PM

Well its nice to see this signing getting an individual thread :P :P This is surely his last chance now. The only person that has shown that the ORANGE ONE is controllable. Lyn Jones has got the best out of him in the past, and I hope he can do the same again this year. I'd like to see him played at 12, and find some form there! But my knowledge of London Welsh strength in depth within their squad! Looks like i'll be keeping an eye on the aviva now :P :P

**Shovenose** · 11-07-12, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by TVH11

Well its nice to see this signing getting an individual thread :P :P This is surely his last chance now. The only person that has shown that the ORANGE ONE is controllable. Lyn Jones has got the best out of him in the past, and I hope he can do the same again this year. I'd like to see him played at 12, and find some form there! But my knowledge of London Welsh strength in depth within their squad! Looks like i'll be keeping an eye on the aviva now :P :P

How many times have that been said in the past?

**TRF_Cymro** · 11-07-12, 07:18 AM

London Welsh have said in the Fail today that Henson has signed to play at 10.

**TVH11** · 11-07-12, 10:41 AM

Last chance has been said too many times to remember, and I am guilty of doing it!!! I guess theres only a few people left on this earth that have got time for him, I guess I'm just hoping for THE ORANGE ONE to show some form on the rugby pitch rather than the dance floor!!!!

I think He needs his silver boots back I reckon ;D ;D Thats what made him awesome!!! Like in that film "There's only 1 Jimmy Grimble"!!!

_40886903_gavboots203.jpg

Magic Boots!

Henson signs for London Welsh

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Henson signs for London Welsh