You are in > manchester.com  > News > Henson ruled out for Ospreys ahead of EDF Energy Cup final

Rugby Union

Henson ruled out for Ospreys ahead of EDF Energy Cup final

11/04/2008

Ospreys centre Gavin Henson has been ruled out of the EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester Tigers this Saturday with an ankle injury.

The Wales international limped off midway through the second half of his side's 19-10 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens last weekend.

And scans on the injury later showed Henson had suffered damage to the ligaments in his left ankle.

The 26-year-old has been receiving intensive treatment on the injury this week, but the club have now confirmed he has failed to recover in time to play for the Welsh provincial side in the Twickenham final against the defending champions.

"It's disappointing news that we have to go into the game without Gavin Henson, who is still suffering from the ankle injury he picked up at Saracens," said head coach Lyn Jones.

"Although he just failed to make it for this weekend we are confident that he will be fit for selection next week."

Henson, who is replaced at inside centre by 22-year-old Andrew Bishop, joins a growing list of injury problems for Ospreys coach Lyn Jones ahead of the showpiece match this weekend.

Welsh international scrum-half Mike Phillips is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury and Scotland wing Nikki Walker has an ankle problem, with neither scheduled to play a part in the Anglo-Welsh final.

The match is a repeat of last year's final, which ended in a 41-35 victory for the Guinness Premiership outfit.

And Jones said he was keen for the players to erase the memory of that defeat with victory tomorrow.

"Saturday is another big day, another landmark occasion in the short history of the Ospreys and everybody in the camp is looking forward to going back to Twickenham to face Leicester Tigers in a repeat of last years classic encounter," the head coach continued.

"Conceding 28 points in one half, is a freak event for any professional side and being a little wiser to the demands Leicester will place upon us, memories of last year will help drive us on to the goal of becoming the first Welsh side to win the EDF Energy Cup."