Gavin Henson learns RL is more physical – after rejecting earlier cross code offer
GAVIN Henson admits he is stunned by being battered around after finally crossing codes to play rugby league – that is just in training.
But he hopes to make an impact by growing the 13-a-side code in Wales, even if a World Cup place is far from his thinking, once he memorises the rules.
The RU icon has joined League One side West Wales Raiders at the age of 39, almost 20 years after turning down an approach from Widnes.
He has only had three training sessions with his new club but the physicality of his new sport is beyond something he experienced in the ‘gentlemanly’ world of union, especially that of another new boy, former England star Rangi Chase.
Henson admitted: “Training is so different, I can't get over the contact side of it, it's flat out.
“On Tuesday, I probably made about 30 tackles which is crazy, in rugby union I probably made seven or eight on game day.
“Rangi’s just so full on in contact, he’s 110 per cent, which you don’t really see in union, it’s kind of gentlemen’s in union.
“It’s very rare you go flat out but every session he’s flat out and so are the rest of the boys. It’s mind blowing.
“What I find hard is the tackle count, I keep losing track of how many there are!”
Having Henson, who made 33 appearances for Wales, completing two Grand Slams, and one for the British Lions, at West Wales is huge for rugby league in the principality.
A ‘chance meeting’ with Raiders’ bosses led to the move but he was a regular spectator when Celtic Crusaders played in Bridgend from 2006-2009.
Had things been different, he would have been a league player much earlier as he added: “I was about 19 or 20, so maybe 2002 or 2003.
“We had a coach called Clive Griffiths at Swansea, who were in a bit of a mess at the time. I was kind of the next big thing but not really yet.
“I said to Clive a few clubs were interested but he said I only really wanted to go there if it was St Helens or Wigan and it was neither of those, I think it was Widnes.
“But I did contemplate it a little bit. It's something I wish I did but didn't.”
Henson learns his first opponents tomorrow as West Wales are one of three League One clubs in the Challenge Cup first round draw.
But far from represent his country at this year’s World Cup, his main aim is to grow interest in the sport, with a cup shock helping.
Henson said: “Rugby league’s not a big sport in Wales but we’re trying to change that and if I can help in any way, that would be great. There’s enough room for union and league.
“If we can do our talking on the field, if we can take a scalp, that would be great. People would probably respect us a bit more and youngsters coming through might start looking more at rugby league as well.
“If we can get a Welsh team in Super League then that’s when youngsters will start making the decision, respect it more and want to come across.
“At the moment, you probably have to go up north, which is quite an upheaval as a youngster. But if we got a team like West Wales Raiders in the Championship or the Super League then I think there’d be more a transition of youngsters choosing league.
“And the World Cup is an obvious one that people will talk about. I might be a million miles off but if I am pretty good out there and have still got some running left in these legs then I’ll be looking at that myself.”
