Cardiff Blues terminate Gavin Henson's contract

  • Wales
Henson was a replacement for the Blues against Glasgow on Friday night Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Cardiff Blues have cancelled Gavin Henson's contract, and he'll leave the club immediately, after an 'incident' on a team flight on Saturday morning.

The former Wales centre was suspended and had apologised for 'drinking and behaving inappropriately' after the Blues' RaboDirect PRO12 defeat at Glasgow on Friday night.

Airline Flybe confirmed earlier on Monday that he was banned from flying with them for six months.

The 30-year-old signed for Cardiff Blues in October on an eight-month contract. They became his fourth club in the space of 12 months after brief spells with Saracens and Toulon. He took time out from rugby earlier in his career, after breakthrough success with the Ospreys and Wales.

Hamish Stuart, editor of Sporting Wales magazine, says that Gavin Henson has "burned a lot of bridges" in the rugby world now, and that - if he's serious about reviving his career again - he may have to drop down from the top level to find a club.

Gavin Henson's career highs and lows:

  • 2001: Named International Rugby Board young player of the year, wins first Wales cap

  • 2005: Integral part of Wales team that wins 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam, plays for British and Irish Lions during tour to New Zealand

  • 2008: Wins second Grand Slam with Wales

  • 2009: It's revealed that he is on indefinite, unpaid leave from the Ospreys

  • 2010: Released by Ospreys from remainder of contract, signs for Saracens

  • January & February 2011: Released by Saracens after just 4 games, joins French club Toulon, but suspended for breach of club discipline and leaves after just 2 games

  • August 2011: World Cup hopes come to an end due to dislocated wrist in warm-up win over England

  • October 2011: Signs for Cardiff Blues

  • March 2012: Involved in 'incident' on Cardiff Blues' team flight back from defeat at Glasgow