By Gareth Roberts
BBC Sport Wales online |
  Henson has a lack of match practice this season |
The Ospreys have banned Gavin Henson from their two opening Heineken Cup games for disciplinary reasons. The Wales star will miss Sunday's trip to Leicester and Perpignan's visit. The BBC understands the ban was imposed after the injury-plagued centre missed a training session following a discussion about his performance. An Ospreys statement read: "Gavin is excluded from the next two Ospreys fixtures following a rugby-related internal disciplinary decision." Henson had been called into a meeting with the Ospreys coaches on Tuesday to discuss his performance against Harlequins on Sunday - his first full game for five months after suffering an ankle injury. If he weren't match fit, he could of been dropped to the bench instead of this ban. It's ruined his hopes for the Autumn now. Ospreys get a head coach!  | 606: DEBATE |
He then failed to attend Wednesday's training session, before turning up on Thursday when he was told of his suspension. The 2005 Lion has been pencilled in to play for Swansea at Newport in the Welsh Premiership on 18 October, the same day that Perpignan visit the Liberty Stadium in the Heineken Cup. Henson's ban is the latest controversy to affect a career that has often been dogged by off-field events. His absence is a further blow to the Ospreys midfield as long-term partner Sonny Parker is also absent from the Heineken Cup opener against the Tigers due to a chest muscle injury. It is not known if the ban could affect Henson's chances of playing for Wales during the autumn Tests against South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. But he has a lack of match practice, having started only one game this season, the Ospreys' 18-17 EDF Energy Cup win over Harlequins on Sunday at Swansea's Liberty Stadium. Henson's first appearance following the ankle injury came against Ulster in the Magners League when he came off the bench after 63 minutes in a 43-0 win, also at the Liberty Stadium.
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