Magners League Official Website : Henson out of Welsh tests

Longer lay off for Henson

Steve Pope Photography

Henson out of Welsh tests

28 September 2005, 2:19 pm

By Jonathan McConnell

Gavin Henson has been ruled out of Wales’ entire autumn Test series and also the Ospreys opening European games.

Henson recently underwent surgery in Germany to try to cure a long-standing groin problem. And while the operation has been deemed a success, he now faces an eight-week conditioning and rehabilitation programme.

Wales kick-off their autumn series in a sell-out clash against New Zealand on November 5, followed by appointments with Fiji, South Africa and Australia.

Henson, who has not played since returning home from the Lions tour of New Zealand in July, has been troubled by the groin problem for several months.

But careful injury management saw him through last season's Six Nations campaign, plus the Lions tour, before he travelled to Germany to obtain expert medical advice.

Ospreys manager Derwyn Jones said: "Gavin is making great progress - the operation was a success, and he is now pain-free. He hasn't played for a while, so he will be going through an intensive conditioning period before we welcome him back onto the pitch with the Ospreys."