[blues-blues]

This whole story has come via the western mail and take a look at it

GAVIN HENSON has been granted indefinite leave by the Ospreys as fears mount that he is on the verge of quitting rugby.

Says who?

The Western Mail has learned Henson did not attend the official team photo opportunity on Tuesday – and was not even expected there by the region’s hierarchy.

so what?

Ospreys officials have confided they have no clue when they will see Henson again, with speculation increasing that he might have played his last match.

which officials - are we talking Hore and Johnson or the groundsman?

The double Wales Grand Slam winner was one of four absentees from the traditional pre-season team photo three days ago, with hooker Richard Hibbard and wings Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker also missing.

so Henson wasn't the only one who missed the photo shot

Hibbard was excused because of the sudden loss of his mother, while Bowe and Walker were missing because of international commitments with Ireland and Scotland respectively.
so we don't know why Gavin wasn't there

No reason was given for Henson’s absence and his Ospreys team-mates are said to be in the dark about what is happening with him.

Who says his teammates are in the dark about what is happening?

But we have been told the Ospreys hierarchy have given Henson special dispensation to remain away from the Liberty Stadium to sort himself out.

Again who told you - was a bloke in the pub/a rugby rebeller/the burger van bloke - WHO?

While Henson has been granted his indefinite leave, the rest of the Ospreys squad have been preparing in earnest for the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

They have now taken the indefinate leave that they mooted in the beginning and turned it into fact even though we have no quotes or facts

Henson’s no-show for the team photo this week followed his withdrawal from the Ospreys’ media open day eight days ago, when he was the only squad player not to turn up.

Again so what?

The Ospreys have their first pre-season friendly against Leeds at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow and released an official statement in anticipation of the clash, in which head coach Sean Holley referred to the region’s crop of injuries.

He talked of several players receiving treatment, including Shane Williams, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Evans and Adam Jones, but made no mention of Henson.

Maybe because Scott Johnson dealt with it the other day in detail

Even if Henson were to commit himself to a playing return, he would be considerably behind his team-mates in terms of pre-season preparation, a dangerous situation given his injury track record of the past two years.

Woudl he? How do you know this? Who says he would? Players are rehabbed back into teams all the time

In seasons 2007-08 and 2008-09, Henson featured in just 23 out of 59 Ospreys games, playing in less than half the fixtures in each campaign.

Finally a fact. How many games did the other Welsh internationals play?

New director of rugby Scott Johnson concedes that everyone at the region is unsure about when Henson will return.

Johnson spoke of Henson injury issues that had been difficult to diagnose.

So somebody at the Ospreys has in fact given a statement with regard to Gavin

Henson admitted earlier this year he had thoughts of quitting because of those on-going injury problems, but subsequently issued a denial, stating he wanted to carry on playing.

No he didn't - he denied it in his statement

“I’m receiving the best medical care to help me address the injury problem, and I’m sure that I will be able to put it behind me in the very near future,” Henson said at the time.

But the events of the last eight days have merely served to re-ignite the intrigue about Henson’s future.

Why is it intrigue - Player is injured and unsure when they will be fit.

Whatever the situation with Henson, though, the Ospreys are determined it will not overshadow their preparations for the new season and are keen to promote the all-for-one spirit of their squad.

Whatever the situation with henson? so we are back to having no facts again

Holley said yesterday: “There is an excellent spirit in the camp at the moment.

“The players are enjoying their pre-season, working very hard, and looking forward to getting the new season under way.

“The players are really proud to be able to represent the region and are hopeful that, once again, they will receive the backing of the Ospreys support in good numbers throughout the coming season.

“Have no doubt, they will be giving everything they've got, on and off the field, on behalf of the region in the coming months.”

The only statement from the Os was Sean Holley talking about their pre season build up and the Western Mail have turned it into a Henson story


and people fall for this crap everyday