St Helens 34 - 22 Bradf

Gavin Henson, who was yesterday ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations Championship campaign in which he has played no part because of a knee ligament injury, will have six weeks at the end of the season to prove he is worth a place in Wales's squad for the World Cup.

Henson and his partner, Charlotte Church, announced this week they were expecting their first child in September, but the centre will have to deliver long before that if he is not to miss out on his second successive World Cup campaign.

Wales's head coach, Gareth Jenkins, who did not pick Henson in the opening three championship matches because he felt the 25-year-old was out of form, said he will be an interested spectator when the Lion makes his expected return at the end of the month after a period of rest, which was deemed to be the cure for his injury rather than surgery.

"Gavin needs to play and produce some form," said Jenkins. "We will watch him when he returns to fitness and monitor his progress until the end of the season. He will have the opportunity to prove he is worth a place in our squad to tour Australia in the summer."

If Henson is left out of that squad his chances of playing in the World Cup will depend on the fitness of others, especially as the midfield is not one of the problem areas for Jenkins, whose side have lost their opening three Six Nations matches.

England will have eight of their starting line-up in Dublin last Saturday in Premiership action this weekend. The exceptions are the injured trio of Olly Morgan, Jason Robinson and Magnus Lund, while Leicester's quartet will be on the bench against Harlequins today.

Gloucester are likely to appeal against the 13-week touchline ban imposed on their director of rugby, Dean Ryan, on Thursday night for threatening and verbally abusing the referee Rob Debney after the match at Saracens last month.

Ryan, who is suspended from the pitch, tunnel, touchline, technical and dressing room areas during match days until May 31, admitted directing abusive language at Debney after Gloucester's last-minute defeat at Vicarage Road, but denied threatening the official.

The Harlequins' full-back Gavin Duffy yesterday rejoined Connacht with immediate effect.