Gavin Henson: The kick that changed everything
Men's Six Nations: Wales v England
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Sport website and app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Live.
Gavin Henson never underestimated himself.
Two decades have passed since his kick to beat England paved the way to a first Welsh Grand Slam in 27 years.
His first answer in a post-match TV interview summed up his role in one of the most defining moments in Welsh sporting history:
"It was written for me wasn't it?"
The 72,000 supporters in the stadium and the millions at home could also sense the greater significance of his match-winning penalty. As the ball sailed between the posts, former England prop Brian Moore on commentary remarked: "Do not underestimate the enormity of that kick."
With the benefit of hindsight, Moore's line had a dual meaning: Henson's kick would transform the Welsh sporting landscape; it would also change Gavin Henson's life forever.
A mile or so away from the Principality Stadium, in a local pub, another Welsh icon Charlotte Church, was glued to the TV. She decided to hunt down the man in the silver boots.
"I was in here watching the game, and I didn't know Gav before that. And then I was like, I'm gonna go out and find him in town," said the singer.
Church was speaking on her podcast Kicking Back with the Cardiffians where she also described the pressures of life in the spotlight. This was the life Henson stepped into when they eventually met, forging Wales' version of Posh and Becks - former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and England captain David Beckham.
Henson went from a well-known rugby player to a front-page UK celebrity.
The mid-noughties was the era of reality TV, where the tabloids and glossy magazines like Heat and Hello were king and queen makers. Henson would go on to star in a variety of shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and The Bachelor.
He was, arguably, the most famous man in Wales.
Ex-Wales back Henson makes shock appearance for Welsh fourth-tier club
Henson to make rugby league debut
Henson remains as enigmatic as ever, making him the perfect subject for a series to coincide with the 20-year anniversary of that kick, and so Golden Boy: Finding Gavin Henson was conceived.
The purpose of the podcast was to track him down and speak to him. The finding part was the easy bit. He owns a pub in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he lives a quiet life pulling pints and washing pans. Convincing Henson to revisit his own story was the challenge.
Numerous colleagues had attempted and failed to get his involvement in a documentary series. He would often agree tentatively to the initial idea before eventually pulling out, or in some cases fail to reply to any further messages.
The idea of this superstar hiding in plain sight fascinated us, so we decided to document the process of reaching out to him whilst also telling the remarkable story of his life on and off the field.
Henson would eventually retire in 2019. The final decade of his career would see him bounce along from club to club, embroiled in numerous controversies. It was often easy at that time to forget the huge impact he had as a player in the mid to late noughties.
Henson was instrumental in the Grand Slam successes of 2005 and 2008. His partnership with Tom Shanklin was the cornerstone of the team's attacking and defensive system.
"I would just be in awe of what he could do, whether it be upending someone in a tackle, whether it be smashing a conversion or a penalty, whether it be his vision, putting someone into a hole," said Shanklin.
"When he was on form and he wanted to play there was no one better."
Six months after his heroics against England, at 23 years of age, Henson decided to publish an autobiography which would tear the national team apart.
In the book he openly criticised several of his team-mates and the saga would eventually lead to the resignation of head coach Mike Ruddock.
A couple of years later the Welsh Rugby Union decided to use his image in a 100ft poster promoting their new kit. There was only one issue: Henson was on a self-imposed hiatus from the game.
Henson was an outlier, a man who split the opinions of team-mates, coaches and supporters. He was his own man who would strike his own hits.
Which brings us back to the kick. There is less than five minutes left on the clock, England lead 9-8 when a penalty is awarded to Wales. Stephen Jones had taken the previous kicks that day, but he stepped away.
"When you have someone with an amazing talent who can kick a ball a long, long way, and you have a secret weapon and someone who has the ability to smash a ball 50 metres, you think, well, we've got to use this guy," said Jones.
Jones understood that a kick of around that distance at an angle was beyond his and most people's range.
"There's not many people now in world rugby who can take on kicks of that distance comfortably," he said.
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell is a self-confessed kicking nerd. Even he concedes that he very rarely practised from that position on the pitch.
"It is almost Hollywoodesque in terms of the script is written and you just step up and you do it. I think it's the sort of effortlessness," Patchell told the podcast.
Effortlessness is an appropriate term to describe Henson's playing career. He seemed blessed with abilities that others simply did not possess. He could do what others could not and he did it with ease.
It is this unique sporting ability that was the ultimate driver in my effort to speak to him. It is fair to say that the journey has been challenging. Henson remains as unpredictable as ever, occasionally resurfacing before returning to the shadows.
It is that elusiveness that fascinates me and so many others.
Golden Boy: Finding Gavin Henson is available now on BBC Sounds
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fleetwood grabs PGA Travelers lead as top-ranked stars fade
England's Tommy Fleetwood fired a seven-under par 63 to grab a three-stroke lead after the third round of the PGA Tour Travelers Championship (Andrew Redington) England's Tommy Fleetwood, seeking his first PGA Tour title, fired a seven-under par 63 to seize a three-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the Travelers Championship. The 34-year-old Merseysider eagled the par-five 13th for the second consecutive day on the way to standing on 16-under 194 after 54 holes at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Advertisement American Russell Henley, who won his fifth career PGA title in March at Bay Hill, matched his career-low PGA round with a bogey-free 61 to share second on 197 with US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who shot 63. "It'll come down to a bunch of things really," Fleetwood said. "Being in the last group, I'm really happy with that. "I'm happy with the work I've done. It's just an amazing opportunity to go out here tomorrow and hopefully it's my time." World number one Scottie Scheffler, second-ranked Rory McIlroy and world number five Justin Thomas stumbled to fall well back, Scheffler and Thomas having shared the 36-hole lead with Fleetwood. Advertisement Paris Olympic runner-up Fleetwood, ranked 17th, has seven DP World Tour wins but none on the PGA despite 41 top-10 finishes. Fleetwood sank a birdie putt from just inside 13 feet at the third hole and rolled in a 66-foot birdie putt, his season long, at the par-three fifth. At the par-five sixth, Fleetwood dropped his approach inches from the hole and tapped in for birdie. Fleetwood made a 19-foot birdie putt at the 10th then eagled 13, sinking a 30-foot putt from just off the green -- "13 has been very kind to me so far. I'd like to keep up with that." Fleetwood, who had two eagles on the season when the week began, has made three in the past two days and only one bogey this week. Advertisement After driving the green at the par-four 15th to set up a a tap-in birdie, Fleetwood closed with three pars. "It was nice to get off to a good start," Fleetwood said. " Bogey free is always good." Henley made five birdies on the front nine to move within two of the lead and stayed on Fleetwood's heels most of the day, adding a 14-foot birdie putt at the 12th, a seven-footer for birdie at 13, a four-footer to birdie 14 and a closing birdie from just outside five feet. "I did everything really well," said Henley. "It was a really solid round, hit a lot of great shots. Hope I can continue to do that." Advertisement Bradley, the 2023 Travelers winner, birdied four of the first seven holes, three of his birdie putts from outside 15 feet, and birdied three of the last six holes, a five-footer at the last grabbing a share of second. "Every one counts because we're going to have to go out and shoot another low one tomorrow," Bradley said. - Top-rated stars stumble - Defending champion Scheffler struggled on his 29th birthday, making an triple bogey and a double bogey in the same round for the first time in his career in firing a 72 to stand on 203. Scheffler made his first triple bogey since last August, missing the first green from a nearby bunker, then finding the rough. Advertisement Last month's PGA Championship winner found water off the eighth tee on the way to a double bogey. Thomas, a two-time major winner, took a quadruple-bogey nine at the 13th, losing his tee shot into left rough and needing three shots to escape greenside rough, on the way to shooting 73 to stand on 204. McIlroy fired a 68 to stand on 203. He birdied four of the first eight holes, his longest putt among them from 11 feet at the fourth, before a double bogey at 12 dropped him back, taking four to reach the green after going long with his approach. js/bb
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Briton Yafai stunned by Rodriguez in first pro loss
Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai loses for the first time as a professional [Getty Images] Galal Yafai's world title ambitions suffered a major setback as the British flyweight was dropped in the final round in a shock points loss to Francisco Rodriguez Jr in Birmingham. Fighting in his home city, the 32-year-old Olympic gold medallist was rocked early and struggled to handle the relentless pressure and punch volume from the Mexican in a high-tempo contest. Advertisement Yafai had moments of success and showed resilience, but was repeatedly hurt, notably in the seventh and ninth, before hitting the canvas in the twelfth. Although he beat the count, he was clinging on until the end and there was no dispute over the result with scores of 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109. Yafai is defeated for the first time in 10 professional bouts and loses his WBC interim title. Once tipped for a rapid ascent to full world honours, the Tokyo 2020 champion now faces a significant rebuilding job. "[Rodriguez] was relentless tonight. Yafai couldn't have got into a worse start but I'm so proud of him," Yafai's promoter, Eddie Hearn, said. Fast start from Rodriguez sets the tone Rodriguez Jr is a former unified strawweight world champion and wins his 40th bout in 47 fights [Getty Images] Rodriguez burst out of the blocks, rattling the champion early and buckling Yafai's legs with a sharp left uppercut. Yafai struggled to fully recover as Rodriguez's quick hands continued to find the mark through the early stages. Advertisement Yafai rallied in the fourth, landing clean with his backhand, but was hampered by blood pouring from a cut above his left eye. Rodriguez also suffered a cut later in the fight. The Birmingham fighter – who cruised past Sunny Edwards in November – looked second-best throughout, his body language offering little encouragement to the home crowd. He frequently dabbed at the eye and found it difficult to match Rodriguez's pace. Rodriguez had his fired-up corner roaring in the seventh when Yafai was floored, although it was ruled a slip. The damage, however, had already been done earlier in the round, with the 31-year-old away fighter landing a flurry of punches. A crisp straight right and uppercut connected in the eighth, with Yafai showing heart and toughness to stay in the fight. Both men were inspected by doctors before the ninth due to cuts, but it was Rodriguez who continued to dominate, hurting Yafai again as blood stained the referee's shirt. Advertisement By the championship rounds, Yafai looked increasingly resigned to his fate. A clean left-right combination dropped him in the 12th. He rose with a wry, deflated smile before moments later leaving the ring without giving a post-fight interview. A world title shot against Japan's unified champion Kenshiro Teraji had seemed within touching distance but instead Yafai's dream of becoming an Olympic and world champion is paused for now. "He failed on the hurdle to elite level and that's sometimes what happens. He'd only had nine fights," Hearn added. 'The new Katie Taylor' stars on debut Tiah Mai Ayton competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai before transitioning to boxing [Getty Images] Earlier, Britain's Tiah Mai Ayton announced herself to the professional ranks in style by stopping Hungary's Sara Orszagi in a ferocious debut. Advertisement Dubbed "the next Katie Taylor" by Hearn, the 18-year-old super-bantamweight rocked Orszagi with crisp right hands from the opening bell. She dropped her in the third, then ended it seconds later with a clean shot. As the referee waved the fight off, a smiling Ayton strutted back to her corner, poking her tongue out to her team. "Eddie's been bigging me up, so I had to show what I'm about," said Bristol's Ayton, a flawless 21-0 as an amateur. A beaming Hearn added: "She's born for this. She's built for this. She's a special talent." On a strong night for Matchroom's prospects, Manchester's 2024 Olympian Pat Brown secured his second professional win with a brutal second-round stoppage of Croatia's Ivan Duka. Advertisement A sharp right hook to the body, followed by a thudding left hook and a crisp left uppercut brought an early end to Duka's night. Brown, 25, will be back in the ring in just two weeks' time on 5 July in Manchester. Also on the card, super-bantamweight Peter McGrail earned a hard-fought majority decision over Romania's Ionut Baluta, and British welterweight champion Conah Walker retained his belt with a seventh-round stoppage win over Liam Taylor. More boxing from the BBC
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steve Borthwick backs George's leadership qualities for co-captaincy role
By Phil Campbell at Pennyhill Park Steve Borthwick has backed Jamie George's leadership qualities after restoring him to England captaincy duties alongside George Ford. The England head coach replaced George as skipper in January of this year in favour of Maro Itoje, a decision the hooker admitted came out of the blue. Advertisement However, with Itoje away on Lions duty where he will captain the touring side in Australia, Borthwick has gone back to the tried-and-tested with George set to lead the team for the game against a French XV on Saturday, working as a co-captain with Ford. Borthwick explained that the two dovetail nicely in their leadership styles and having both in the joint position was 'the right way to go'. 'He's (George) really clear from a tactical point of view. He's got a brilliant voice. He has a fantastic feel and manner with people,' said Borthwick. 'Both of them are phenomenal players and both are brilliant, experienced leaders, both at club and international level. Advertisement 'Whether they've been captains or vice-captains or not, they are leaders and they are role models for the rest of the players. 'I decided that was the right way to go, to have two great figureheads for this team. 'This week training, they complement each other superbly well, as you'll know from their different styles and different positions they play. 'That then gives us a figurehead in the forwards, a figurehead in the backs, leading the team. 'I've been really pleased with how it's gone.' Ford and George come into the tour as two of the most experienced members of the squad, with a combined 200 England caps between them, having both missed out on selection for the Lions in May. Advertisement George, whilst not making the 38-man squad, has clearly remained in Farrell Snr's thinking and was called up to train with the Lions out in Portugal last week due to the absence of Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, both of whom were on Leinster duty in the URC Final. Now back with England, the hooker reflected with pride on his third different Lions camp, despite the initial disappointment of missing out. 'I loved it,' he said. 'Me and George [Ford] are in the same boat. I was very disappointed not to be on the Tour in the first place, but to be given any opportunity to go in and show what you're about a little bit… It was a great opportunity for me to go out there. They're setting themselves up very nicely for a successful tour.' Advertisement And with England set to fly out to Argentina, the opponents of the Lions on Friday evening in Dublin, George revealed he was keenly observing everything that was going on, partly to help when he was back with his national side. He added: 'There's a little bit more in it because they're playing Argentina tomorrow night and that's where our tour is going to be. As we were analysing in the Lions meetings, I was making sure I was making extra notes just to bring back about what I've seen. I think it's important.' There is scope for the England squad to change should the Lions come calling, with Jack van Poortvliet currently away as scrum-half cover for the side with Jamison Gibson-Park not fully fit. Borthwick remained tight-lipped about any potential return to the international fold for Owen Farrell, however, after he re-signed for Saracens this week following one season at Racing 92 in France, making him eligible for international duty once more. Advertisement 'I think Owen has been very clear,' said Borthwick. 'He's happy to be home and he hasn't made any discussion around his future other than just wanting to get his family settled back in Hertfordshire. 'My focus is on these guys here.' On the timescale regarding Van Poortvliet's return, Borthwick said he is due to be back next week but admitted that date could be subject to change and that the Leicester scrum-half would be fully supported if that were to be the case. 'Jack might well be at the game on Saturday afternoon, but if that changes from a Lions perspective, then we fully support Jack,' he added. Advertisement 'We've also spoken very publicly that we want as many England players in that Lions squad as possible. 'There might be situations were other England players join the squad in which case we'll be delighted for our players to do that.'
