Henson apologises to Wales team

Henson's book continues to make the headlines

Gavin Henson has apologised to his Wales team-mates for controversial comments in his recent book.

In 'My Grand Slam Year', Henson hit out at the Lions, queried the rights of non-Welsh born players to represent the country, and criticised team-mates.

The centre had a meeting with the squad at their request in the training camp Sunday and has now publicly apologised.

"I said in the meeting I apologise to anyone who was offended by anything that was written," said Henson.

We were a close and tight-knit group during our Six Nations campaign and I don't want to spoil that Gavin Henson

"They [his Wales team-mates] wanted to make it clear to me that they were unhappy with some of the things in the book and I have fully taken on board everything they said.

"We were a close and tight-knit group during our Six Nations campaign and I don't want to spoil that.

"All I want now is to forget about it, the book's out there, there's nothing more I can do about that.

"I want to get back to playing rugby for the Ospreys and hopefully get back to playing well enough to be selected by Wales, rejoin my international team-mates and move forward."

The apology represents something of a climb-down by Henson who insisted he had "no regrets" over his comments at the official launch of his book two weeks ago.

As a squad of players we now feel we can move on Wales captain Gareth Thomas

He has insisted that he would rather be honest and open to avoid the bland statements made by many modern-day sportsmen.

Australian-born team-mate Brent Cockbain has gone on record to say he has no problem with Henson's views on overseas players representing Wales.

Henson was also critical of current Wales colleague Colin Charvis and former team-mates Andy Moore and Darren Morris.

But the major cause of concern to the Welsh squad would appear to be that Henson had breached their trust, revealing information that should have stayed within the dressing room.

Wales captain Gareth Thomas insists that the squad will now put the incident behind them.

"We were pleased to see Gavin and it's great that he's come out in public and accepted he has been wrong with some of the things he's said," said Thomas.

"We needed to discuss it face-to-face so there was no misunderstanding.

Gavin will be back in action in time for the Six Nations and we will see then how things are with regard to form and fitness Wales team manager Alan Phillips

"As a squad of players we now feel we can move on and hopefully this will be the last public comment on the matter."

Wales team manager Alan Phillips told BBC Sport:

"The players called the meeting and we [the management] let them get on with it.

"I wasn't present, but it was a short meeting, open and honest.

"Everything was OK afterwards, Gavin has gone away to reflect on things but the door is wide open for him.

"He will be back in action in time for the Six Nations and we will see then how things are with regard to form and fitness."

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