Gavin Lloyd Henson (born February 1, 1982 in Bridgend) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays for the Ospreys regional side and the national team. He attracted much media attention in the 2004-2005 rugby season, in which he was part of a Wales team which achieved a long-sought Grand Slam in the Six Nations Championship.

Gavin Henson's father, Alan Henson, captained Heol-y-Cyw and Maesteg, so rugby was in the family. Gavin played rugby for his school, Brynteg Comprehensive, in Bridgend, south Wales. Despite his Bridgend origins, he joined Swansea RFC at the age of 18. He was promptly the International Rugby Board's "Young Player Of The Year" in 2001. Henson came to wider notice in 2004 with a series of excellent performances in Wales' autumn internationals against New Zealand and South Africa. He remained on the team for the 2005 Six Nations championship. In Wales' opening fixture in February, at home to England, Henson gave an effective performance culminating in a successful 44m penalty kick and much media attention. 2005 Six Nations Wales-England match report: Planet Rugby website, 2005 Six Nations Wales-England match report: Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Henson's gelled hair, tanned skin, shaved legs and silver (variously golden) boots made him of instant interest to those members of the British media who did not normally cover Welsh rugby. He was dubbed "Gazza" (as had the soccer player Paul Gascoigne before him). A romance with Cardiff singer Charlotte Church ("Chazza"), a tabloid favourite, ensured this interest endured. Welsh celebrities make their mark Hello Magazine (undated, but 2005 or later) Back in his club side, Henson was part of a team which took the Celtic League cup: in the deciding match (Ospreys v Edinburgh, 26 March 2005), he scored 24 of his side's 29 points. Ospreys-Edinburgh Celtic League final match report BBC news 29th March, 2005

In the (northern hemisphere) summer of the same year, Henson was a member of the Lions tour of New Zealand. He was "devastated not to be playing" in the first Test Gavin Henson interviewed by JPR Williams interview in The Observer newspaper, November 6 2005. When he did get selected for the second test, he did not play well and was injured for the final test. A groin injury delayed his return to club rugby in the autumn of the year. Within months of his Ospreys return, Henson was cited (reported following a game for events during it) for kicking and elbowing an opponent in a game against Leicester on December 19 2005. He was found not guilty of the kicking offence, but guilty of the elbowing. He was initially suspended for ten weeks and two days: this period was reduced on appeal to seven weeks. Following this suspension and a single game at club level, he returned to international rugby against Ireland but did not shine. Henson left 'suicidal' by débâcle in Dublin The Independent newspaper, 28 February 2006

Henson has played in a variety of positions including fly-half, fullback and inside centre. He usually plays on the Welsh team as inside centre. He appears in adverts for Nike Pro and for one of the Wales rugby sponsors, Brains brewery.

In October 2005 Henson's My Grand Slam Year (ISBN 0007216866), was published. Comments about the Lions tour and remarks about other players ensured rapid publicity and Henson had to apologise to his team-mates. Henson says sorry Welsh Rugby Union, 7 November 2005 He is going to appear (most likely as himself) in Catherine Zeta-Jones' upcoming film, Coming Out.

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