Gatland Backs Henson Despite Rift With Ospreys

Warren Gatland, the Wales head coach, will not hold Gavin Henson's current two-match suspension by the Ospreys against the center ahead of next month's series of internationals which includes dates against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Henson had feared the ban imposed on him last week by the Ospreys after he had failed to turn up for a training session would leave him struggling to make the Wales side for the November 8 clash with the Springboks. He has played only one full match since returning from an operation on his right ankle last April and is set to play for Swansea at Newport on Saturday, when the Ospreys take on Perpignan in the Heineken Cup.

But Gatland names his squad for the autumn internationals next Tuesday and Henson looks sure to be included. "Gavin is not going to play in the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup, but I hope he will get some action in two EDF Energy Cup games before the start of the Tests," said the coach. "How the Ospreys discipline their players is entirely up to them. From my point of view, Gav is a great player. He's been working hard in the gym and is looking in good condition. His fitness was just a side issue."

Henson's former colleague at the Ospreys, the New Zealand scrum-half Justin Marshall, was among four players cited yesterday after the opening rounds of the Heineken and European Challenge Cups. He is accused of dangerously tackling Tom Arscott during Montpellier's victory over Bristol last Friday, while his one-time rival for the All Blacks No9 jersey, Byron Kelleher, has to answer a charge of stamping on Bath's Butch James during Toulouse's victory on Sunday.

Sale, whose early-season injuries were compounded yesterday when the centre Lee Thomas was ruled out until the new year because of a shoulder problem, face being without two players for Sunday's Heineken Cup clash against Munster at Edgeley Park. The flanker Kris Ormsby, another New Zealander, was cited for punching an opponent in Clermont Auvergne last week while the center Rudi Keil, a substitute that day, faces a charge of dangerous play. All four cited players will have their cases heard in Dublin tomorrow.

Clermont Auvergne, meanwhile, have signed Saracens' former South Africa full-back Brent Russell. The 28-year-old moved to Vicarage Road in August last year, but injuries have restricted him to 16 appearances. The scrum-half Mike Blair will continue as Scotland's captain this autumn.