GAVIN HENSON is 30 on February 1st, but he had a happy return yesterday when he was named in Wales’s training squad for the Six Nations even though he has only started three matches for Cardiff Blues this season, making it nine in the last 32 months, two for his country.

“You do ask yourself if it is worth the hassle of selecting Gavin because of the interest and speculation you get from the media,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland, who was more keen to talk about the elevation of the uncapped 18-year-old Blues wing Harry Robinson than the recall of Henson, who is likely to be dropped from his region’s midfield for Sunday’s crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Racing Metro in Cardiff.

“I’m sure the headlines tomorrow will be about Gavin making the squad rather than Harry and it is unfortunate. There was a long debate about Gavin: he was not the first name on our sheet . . . but we will look at him because of his past reputation . . . We are in Poland next week and we will see where he is at. If he is not up to speed, he will not be selected further.”

Gatland named a 35-man squad which he will prune after returning from Poland. Six players are based outside Wales: James Hook, Mike Phillips and Lee Byrne are with French clubs while Andy Powell, Craig Mitchell and Rhys Gill play in England. They will all only be available to spend the first three days in Poland.

“We have stressed to players that if they are going outside Wales, they should get release clauses in their contracts,” added Gatland, whose Lions props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins head to French clubs in the summer.

“This is going to be a challenging issue for us going forward because of the tough economic climate and we still want to keep players here as much as possible.”

Wales will be without the injured secondrows Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris for the Six Nations but Gatland hopes the centre Jamie Roberts will be fit for the opening weekend. The squad includes six uncapped players: Robinson, Rhys Webb, Ashley Beck, Rhodri Jones, Liam Williams and Lou Reed.

While Ireland’s three main provinces have been in impressive in the Heineken Cup, the Blues are the only Welsh side to have a chance of making the quarter-finals. “Ireland will go into the Six Nations with a lot of confidence,” said Gatland. “Ulster’s victory over Leicester was stunning and there will be a backlash because of the comprehensive victory we had over Ireland in the World Cup. They will want revenge and we will have to be ready.”