Latest news with #GavinHenson
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Gavin Henson and former Wales stars to play on same side against Welsh club team
Gavin Henson and former Wales stars to play on same side against Welsh club team The event on June 21 aims to be a celebration of rugby Former Wales and British Lions player Gavin Henson playing for his local team Pencoed RFC last year (Image: Mark Lewis Photography ) A number of Welsh legends are set to pull on their boots once again - and it won't cost fans a penny to come and watch. Usk RFC are inviting a number of stars from years gone by to compete in two touch rugby matches this Saturday, as they celebrate the end of their 150th season. The club, who currently compete in League 2 East, are believed to have played their first match against Newport in 1874, and have played every season since with the exception of the period during the two World Wars. They are now set to honour and celebrate a century-and-half of history this weekend, with a host of big names set to get involved. Gavin Henson, Sam Parry, Lloyd Williams, Elliot Dee, Aaron Wainwright, Ryan Jones, Scott Baldwin and Bradley Davies are all among those set to take part in the club's 'Legends Day' celebrations. The 'Legends' team will take on the club's under-14s side for a 2pm kick-off, before facing Usk's first team straight after. Article continues below Gates will open at midday, and entry is free. Food stalls, including a hog roast, and various activities will be on offer, with any proceeds set to contribute to the club's support for two Tongan teenagers, whom they decided to sponsor last year. As committee member Ro Kulkarni explains: "One was 17 and one was 18, and both came here last year from very poor families. They've both come over and they're studying here and they're now getting an education. "They're Nico and David, who's known as Tongan Dai! "Everyone's pooled together to help these boys. They're like our children. And the best thing is they're both wonderful rugby players. "Their education costs around £9,000 a year. They have college fees and then you've got to pay for food, accommodation, travel. All the other things. So it's a serious amount of money to raise every year. But so many people have given their support. "There's a butcher in Abergavenny that gives them a bucket of meat every two weeks, some have donated them food and clothes, the Celtic Manor have helped give them a flat for them to stay. Another family put them up for a few weeks. "We've had great support from Toby Faletau's dad, Sione Tu'ipulotu, and Kepu Tuipulotu, who plays for Bath. So the Tongan community have been so supportive. "So to celebrate our 150th year we thought we'd do something really nice. Partly to raise money, but it's not just to raise money. It's about giving back." Kulkarni, who worked as team doctor for the Dragons for the best part of 10 years before leaving in 2017, says the event will also be a chance for youngsters to meet and greet some of the game's biggest names. "It's open for all," he added. "It's for kids and there will be lots of food stalls, face painting etc. The fire service are bringing a fire engine for the kids. So there's a lot going on. "The event has also been sponsored by Heineken, who have donated five barrels of beer for the event. Article continues below "It's a day for everyone to mingle. Kids can meet their heroes and have pictures taken, sign autographs. "It's a celebration of rugby."
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Gavin Henson: The kick that changed everything
Men's Six Nations: Wales v EnglandVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 15 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMTCoverage: 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 surmised 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 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."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. Henson went from a well-known rugby player to a front-page UK 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 was, arguably, the most famous man in Wales. 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 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 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 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 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 100 ft 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 brings us back to the kick. There is less than five minutes left on the clock 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 50m, you think, well, we've got to use this guy," said understood that a kick of around 50m 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 practiced 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 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 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 Boy: Finding Gavin Henson is available now on BBC Sounds
