Gavin Henson was returning from London on a train with friends

Henson, 25, has been summonsed to appear before Cardiff magistrates accused of disorderly conduct.

The Ospreys centre and three friends will be prosecuted over allegations of drunken antics on a train from London to Cardiff eight days ago.

Meanwhile, two Newport Gwent Dragons players arrested in Italy outside a nightclub have been freed.

The allegations against Henson and three friends were made on Sunday, 2 December, when he was returning from a game which saw the Ospreys beat Harlequins.

The other men facing prosecution are Jamie Mark Griffiths, 26, David Norman, 33, both from Bridgend, and Matthew Rhys Williams, 25, from Wick, Vale of Glamorgan.

In a statement, British Transport Police (BTP) said: "Four men are to be prosecuted for public order offences following a disturbance on the 1937 First Great Western London Paddington to Cardiff train on the evening of Sunday, 2 December.

"At 9.25pm on 2 December, BTP officers at Cardiff Central responded to a call to a group of men causing a disturbance on the train."

BTP said the men were being summonsed to Cardiff Magistrates' Court and will appear on 14 January for offences contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Henson, from St Brides Major, Vale of Glamorgan, and his friends were questioned by British Transport Police (BTP) when the train arrived in Cardiff.

Club support

Henson has denied the charge and has been supported by his club, the Ospreys.

In a statement, the club said: "The Ospreys can confirm that Gavin Henson has received a summons relating to a section 5 public order offence.

"The club has spent a great deal of time over the past week speaking with Gavin and related parties surrounding the events that occurred on Sunday, 2 December.

"It is our judgement that Gavin's personal conduct itself was not such as to warrant direct disciplinary action by the Ospreys.

"Once again, both Gavin and the Ospreys would like to offer their apologies to passengers who were disturbed. Gavin vehemently denies the charge and the Ospreys are fully in support of him in this matter.

"This will be the last statement from the Ospreys and Gavin until legal matters have concluded as a result of sub judice rules which we must comply with."

Henson's partner, singer and TV presenter Charlotte Church, had their first child, Ruby, in September.

Meanwhile, after a separate incident in Italy, it is believed Newport Gwent Dragons players Rhys Thomas, 25, and Rhodri Gomer-Davies, 24, were given conditional discharges after appearing in court in Treviso on Monday morning.

They had been held in jail after a fracas outside a nightclub in the city after their club's Heineken Cup victory over Treviso.

The regional side confirmed two of its players had broken a team curfew on Saturday night after the 35-33 win.