GAVIN HENSON will today find out whether he has an immediate future with the Cardiff Blues after “behaving inappropriately” on a flight from Glasgow to Cardiff.
The 30-year-old was suspended after an incident on a flight on Saturday morning. A Cardiff Blues spokesman said he was suspended “with immediate effect” following the incident, while Flybe launched an investigation.
In a statement yesterday Henson said: “I am releasing this statement in relation to the press reports and the fact that I have been suspended by the Cardiff Blues for drinking on a flight returning to Cardiff from Glasgow on Saturday 31st March.
“I would like to publicly apologise for drinking on that flight which is inappropriate behaviour.
“I admit I had been out drinking in Glasgow on the Friday night following our game against Glasgow Warriors and had stupidly carried on drinking on the flight, for which I am truly embarrassed about. I can see that drinking and behaving inappropriately on that flight as a professional sportsman at 7am has caused offence to members of the public, the Flybe Airline staff and passengers.
“I know that I have let my team-mates, coaches, management, sponsors and indeed my family down with my actions. Drinking on that plane was inexcusable and I know that I must take responsibility for it.
“I also accept that in the light of this I need to learn from it and ensure this does not happen again.
“I am prepared to co-operate 100 per cent with the Cardiff Blues wishes and will do everything that I need to do in order to make amends and enable the Blues to focus on our biggest game of the season next weekend. I remain fully focused and committed to Cardiff Blues and I hope they can accept my apology.”
A club spokesman said: “The Cardiff Blues management team will meet first thing Monday morning to discuss the matter further.”
Flybe’s statement read: “With regard to flight BE3431 from Glasgow to Cardiff on March 31st, Flybe can confirm that it is gathering information from its own staff as well as those at both airports and will make no further comment at this time.”
Henson was a replacement in the 31-3 defeat by Glasgow.
His contract with the Blues, who face Leinster in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup next weekend, runs out at the end of the season, and it would appear he is unlikely to get an extension regardless of today’s outcome.
Meanwhile, Graham Rowntree revealed Dylan Hartley “might well soon” be made England captain in testimony which helped limit the Northampton hooker’s biting ban to eight weeks.
Hartley (26) was found guilty of biting the finger of Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris in England’s 30-9 RBS Six Nations victory at Twickenham. The independent disciplinary panel ruled Hartley’s reaction to finding Ferris’ finger inadvertently in or near his mouth was “not justifiable” and banned him until May 14th.
Hartley could have faced a much lengthier suspension given he was banned for six months in 2007 for eye-gouging Wasps players Jonny O’Connor and James Haskell in the same match.
But the panel decided to “ignore” the gouging incident — and they reduced the ban from a potential 12 weeks — following “glowing” character references from Rowntree and Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder.
Rowntree, the England forwards coach, insisted on attending the hearing to speak on Hartley’s behalf and detailed the “massive change” he has seen in the player since his “struggle in 2007”.
The full written judgement details Rowntree describing Hartley as “a beacon and a leader” during England’s recent troubled times and he added “no one had more credibility with his peers”.
Harlequins flanker Chris Robshaw was made England captain for the Six Nations but Rowntree said Hartley “was very close to having been made captain of the national team and might well soon become captain”.
Rowntree finished by saying Hartley’s reputation is “completely unfounded” and that “if you look at the many videotapes of the matches in which he has played you will see a man of humility and respect”.
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