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Gavin Henson's London Welsh signing not a publicity stunt
London Welsh captain Jonathan Mills has rejected suggestions they have signed Gavin Henson as a publicity stunt.
The Exiles recruited the Wales international centre, following a controversial spell at Cardiff where he was sacked for off-field misbehaviour.
Henson, 30, has been in and out of the tabloid newspapers and on reality TV, but despite his celebrity status Mills says his arrival is on sporting merit.
"Gavin wouldn't come if he didn't want to play rugby," Mills told BBC Oxford.
London Welsh are Henson's fifth team in under two years following stints at Saracens, Toulon and Cardiff Blues since leaving Ospreys in October, 2010.
He left Saracens after a short period and departed Toulon at the end of the 2010-11 season in which he had also been disciplined over an off-field incident.
He was sacked by Cardiff Blues in April for alcohol-fuelled misbehaviour during a flight on the morning after a game.
"People have said we've signed Gavin Henson as a publicity stunt. I don't think so," added Mills.
"He knows it's going to be a tough slog this season. He knows there will be times when we're up against it and he's going to have to prove himself and I'm sure he will."
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Comment number 34.
chappers14028th July 2012 - 23:22
Henson is better then sweeney mainly for his tackling even though he usually misses most big hits, he is still a quality player and a good signing for london welsh. good luck london welsh
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Comment number 33.
osprewales28th July 2012 - 21:27
'shovehalfpenny' if you think for one second that CS is better than GH you clearly don't have a clue! 2003 WC (the same WC that shane was 3rd choice scrum half in!)=he was too young. 2007 WC (knocked out in the group stage while being coached by a man who said before we played the Fijians: "run the ball about lads" which we all know now was the worst thing to say!) 2011 WC=injured! good luck Gav!
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Comment number 32.
shovehalfpenny28th July 2012 - 20:53
@24 - 'Henson better than Ceri Sweeney on one leg'?
Gavin Henson, 33 caps for Wales, one for the Lions is better than Ceri Sweeney, 35 caps for Wales (including two World Cup campaigns).
How many world cup games did Henson get to, out of interest?
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Comment number 31.
xpat7328th July 2012 - 16:04
Unfortunately when Henson is 35 and out of the game he will realize that he wasted his talent. Backs do get better after 30 (with the exception of Frank Bunce!). He is not an immature 20 year old....he is a 30 year old man. Time to act your age.
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Comment number 30.
Dufresne28th July 2012 - 11:22
re. #25 Welsh fans are not blind to Henson's flaws; we all know he can be a bit of an arse but we just prefer to judge a rugby player on how he plays rugby, and two grand slams and a lions tour is more than either Farrell or Barritt have done. Frankly, Henson on any kind of form gets in over either of them...
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Comments 5 of 34