 Henson's season was ruined by injury and suspension |
New coach Gareth Jenkins has insisted that Gavin Henson needs to get fully fit this summer if he wants to win back his Wales place. Henson, 24, is one of 18 players who will sit out the tour of Argentina.
"He's about eight kilos down on his best playing weight and his pace is substantially below what it needs to be," Jenkins told BBC Radio Five Live.
"Gavin will be far better served being at home. Working on pace and power has got to be a big part of his summer."
A combination of injury and suspension ruined last season for Henson.
At the same time his profile grew considerably because of his relationship with singer Charlotte Church, and Jenkins warned the centre that he has to make sure his off-field activities do not distract him from his rugby.
"It's a challenge for him, that's for sure and it's something he has to live with, not me," said Jenkins.
He said Henson must come to terms with the professionalism required to flourish on the international stage.
"Nothing would delight me more than if he deals with it and we see a fit, strong, enthusiastic Gavin Henson in September."
Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson told Five Live's Rugby Special programme that Henson had the ability to become a top player, but suggested he had a long way to go.
"Let's make no bones about it - Gavin Henson has not proved himself as a world-class rugby player, full stop, end of story. He's had a couple of good games for Wales," said Dawson.
"To get to the level where he potentially can be - and he can be a great player - he has to get his head round what Gareth was talking about there on the interview.
"Someone in Wales needs to make him aware of it, otherwise someone will come along and we will forget about Gavin Henson all of a sudden.
"British rugby can't afford that to happen."
Dawson also suggested that Henson was not the most popular player in the game.
"There were things on that Lions tour that a lot of the players were not happy with, with Gavin," said Dawson.
"Just very, very simple little things that teams need to have. They need to have the unity. You need to be singing from the same hymn sheet all the time."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Interview: Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson
Gavin Henson has not proved himself as a world-class rugby player
