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Rugby Union

Ospreys warn Widnes off Henson

12/12/2007

Ospreys director of rugby Kevin Hopkins says other clubs should forget about a potential swoop for centre Gavin Henson.

The Welshman has returned to form in recent weeks having missed much of last season through injury and played for his country in the recent international against South Africa.

Hopkins says that given Henson's current form he is not surprised that other teams want to lure him away but insists the player will be staying at the Liberty Stadium.

He told the Western Mail: "Gavin is not going anywhere. He is our player and we are happy with his contribution. We have got a good squad and the last thing we would want to do is reduce the quality of it."

Rugby league side Widnes are the latest side to be linked with Henson but Hopkins is determined to keep hold of the player who still has two years left on his current contract.

Hopkins claims that Widnes are trying to take advantage of Henson's current circumstances after he suffered a broken hand and was also charged on Monday with causing a disturbance on a train from London to Cardiff last Sunday.

"It doesn't shock me that there are clubs supposedly interested in Gavin. It was the Scarlets one month, Sale Sharks another and today it is apparently Widnes," said Hopkins.

"We haven't had a formal approach for him, but, if we did, for any player, we would evaluate it and decide what to do."

Henson will not be playing any form of rugby until February due to his injury and Ospreys are likely to want to keep hold of him ahead of a busy Spring schedule.