London Welsh have expressed an interest in providing Gavin Henson with the chance to resume his rugby career with the second-tier English League club.

The 28-year-old Wales and British and Irish Lions centre has been out of the game for more than 18 months.

Henson's Ospreys contract expires at the end of this season but he says he would rather play for a London club.

"We're interested, very interested, providing he's interested," said London Welsh managing director John Taylor.

"We're not here to pander to Gavin in any way but I think he's a terrific talent.

"If he - as we all hope he does - gets his head right again and is really serious about playing good rugby again then we think there's a part in that process that we can help him."

Henson has been on unpaid leave from the Ospreys for 18 months but previously told Scrum V he wanted to leave the Magners League champions and move to a London club to live nearer to his two young children, following his split from their mother Charlotte Church.

The Ospreys, having been patient while their player has been on sabbatical, are unhappy that Henson is now seeking to simply walk away from the Liberty Stadium with the region's understanding being that he would return to play for them when ready.

Aviva Premiership sides Harlequins, London Wasps and Saracens have ruled out making a move for Henson, while London Irish have distanced themselves from recruiting the Bridgend product after initially seeming to encourage the possibility.

If Gavin Henson is in London, wants to stay in London and train in London then it could all work London Welsh managing director John Taylor

However, Taylor believes that English Championship side London Welsh could be the perfect fit for Henson to find his feet again in the professional game.

"Our real interest is two-fold," Taylor told BBC Radio Wales' Scrum V Radio show.

"If he is living in London then he would need somewhere to train - and even if he is good enough and committed enough to get back to where we would hope he is, he would need a number of games at a slightly lower level before he was ready to step back into [top-flight rugby]."

London Welsh already have a player-sharing agreement with the Ospreys and Taylor says he has discussed the possibility of taking Henson to Old Deer Park.

"I've spoken to [Ospreys managing director] Mike Cuddy... and we are basically waiting for them to talk things out," Taylor added.

"They are in quite a difficult position and until that's sorted there's nothing that we can do to either move it forward or even just show that we're the place where he should be.

"We are hoping that we can help in the whole rehabilitation process.

"We are not anxious to sign Gavin Henson as a long-term player for London Welsh because we know his aspirations are above that at the moment.

"What we think we can do is provide a very useful stepping stone both in training and in his first steps back on the playing field.

"Obviously we'd love to have him here, he would be a terrific draw down here at Old Deer Park.

"If he is in London, wants to stay in London and train in London then it could all work."

Henson is currently appearing on BBC television in Strictly Come Dancing and is understood to be contracted to the show until Christmas.

But the injury-plagued player has said he has rediscovered the fitness and competitive edge that saw him feature in two Grand Slam-winning sides and that he believes he still has time to force his way back into the Wales squad in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next September.

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