Rugby Union: Henson Would Be Welcome

The Wales captain Gareth Thomas said he would welcome an in-form Gavin Henson back into the Wales squad, stressing that issues raised by the publication of Henson’s book had been sorted out.

Henson returns next week from a 51-day suspension imposed for elbowing and the Wales squad this week boycotted a media conference until the journalist who ghosted the center’s autobiography had left the building. They were upset by an article the journalist had written in last Saturday’s match program in which he praised Henson’s outspokenness. "I apologise for what happened at the conference," said Thomas. "It was a private disagreement that inadvertently became public and it was a mistake on our part. The players do not have an issue with Gavin and if he plays well enough to get back into the squad he will be treated like every other player and welcomed back."

France yesterday welcomed back their veteran forwards Olivier Magne and Raphaël Ibanez, two of five changes made from the side that lost at Murrayfield last weekend for tomorrow’s match with Ireland in Paris. The prop Olivier Milloud, the centre David Marty and the wing Aurelien Rougerie make up the new quintet.

The prop Marcus Horan yesterday withdrew from the Ireland side through illness, earning a recall for the 35-year-old Reggie Corrigan. Two years ago Ben MacDougall was playing rugby league for Melbourne Storm; on Sunday he will make his international union debut for Scotland against Wales at the Millennium Stadium after being called up as a replacement for the centre Marcus Di Rollo, who strained a hamstring against France.

With attention focused on the Six Nations, the latest comeback by Jonny Wilkinson, who has not played for England since the 2003 World Cup final, should receive less attention than his others. He will be on Newcastle’s bench at London Irish on Sunday, three months after his last game, also against the Exiles.

France team

5 Christophe Dominici Stade Français

14 Aurélien Rougerie Clermont Auvergne

13 David Marty Perpignan

12 Florian Fritz Toulouse

11 Cédric Heymans Toulouse

10 Frédéric Michalak Toulouse

9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde Toulouse

1 Olivier Milloud Bourgoin

2 Raphael Ibanez Wasps

3 Pieter de Villiers Stade Français

4 Fabien Pelous Toulouse, capt

5 Jérôme Thion Biarritz

6 Yannick Nyanga Toulouse

7 Olivier Magne London Irish, right

8 Julien Bonnaire Bourgoin

Replacements Sébastien Bruno

Sale, Sylvain Marconnet Stade,

Lionel Nallet Castres, Rémy
Martin Stade, Dimitri Yachvili

Biarritz, Benjamin Boyet

Bourgoin, Ludovic Valbon Brive