Gavin Henson was one of the vital proficient rugby gamers of his technology, however he was simply as well-known for his high-profile relationship with singer Charlotte Church.

Few rugby gamers have made an influence fairly like Gavin Henson, the previous Wales worldwide who drew comparisons to David Beckham for his on-pitch expertise and off-pitch life-style.

The flamboyant again was one of the vital naturally gifted gamers of his technology, fascinating audiences as he shone on the worldwide stage and for his quite a few golf equipment, typically single-handedly turning video games round.

Along with incomes 33 caps for Wales and touring with the British and Irish Lions in 2005, Henson performed for 3 of the 4 Welsh areas, the Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff , and in addition had stints in England with Saracens, Bathtub, Bristol and London Welsh, in addition to in France with Toulon.

He loved success with Wales, being a part of two Grand Slam campaigns in 2005 and 2008, and in addition received two home titles and the Anglo-Welsh Cup with the Ospreys. Nonetheless, his off-pitch antics typically grabbed as many headlines as his on-pitch successes, typically for the incorrect causes.

Most notably, Henson’s relationship with singer Charlotte Church, who’s considered one of 19 celebrities taking part within the BBC’s new collection of Movie star Traitors, dominated newspaper headlines all through a lot of the 2000s, as they grew to become one of the vital high-profile {couples} in British sport, experiences the Mirror.

He would later seem on actuality TV programmes together with Strictly Come Dancing, however life appears to be like vastly totally different now for the previous rugby ace, who has reached the age of 43. From his high-profile relationship with Church to working his personal boozer, here is all the things you could learn about Henson’s existence past the rugby discipline.

Romance with Charlotte Church

Henson and Church, who shot to stardom as a classical vocalist earlier than switching to pop music, created a media storm once they have been initially noticed collectively publicly in April 2005, simply after she ended issues together with her former associate Kyle Johnson.

Talking on her BBC podcast, Kicking Again With the Cardiffians, Church revealed she actively pursued the rugby participant after seeing him carry out on tv, saying: “I keep in mind watching on this tv, Wales vs England, when Gavin kicked the kick over.

“Then that evening – I did not know Gav earlier than that – I used to be like, I will exit and discover him on the town. He’s good. Truly I used to be going spherical asking everyone, ‘Are you aware Gavin Henson? The place will he exit consuming afterwards?’ No one knew – however I did discover him.”

The Welsh superstar duo started cohabiting the next yr, while in March 2007, Church introduced she was anticipating the pair’s first child. They welcomed daughter Ruby later that yr, adopted by their second youngster, son Dexter, who arrived in January 2009.

The pair seemed to be flourishing, with Henson getting down on one knee for Church’s twenty fourth birthday in February 2010, the very month she secured a serious tv function on BBC expertise present Over The Rainbow. But all the things crumbled merely six weeks afterwards, because the duo confirmed their separation following 5 years as a pair.

It was subsequently revealed that the selection was mutual, with Church stating: “When he proposed, I used to be overjoyed. It was superb. I actually was going to marry Gav and spend the remainder of my life with him. However then he got here again from Norway, and he’d modified, and I might had time to suppose. We had each had a change of coronary heart – so we have been each of the identical thoughts.”

Church subsequently condemned the “insane” press harassment she endured earlier than and all through her romance with Henson, additionally alleging that journalists hacked her cell phone on the Information of The World, for which she ultimately obtained an apology and appreciable compensation.

“The press intrusion was insane, there was all types of darkish stuff occurring,” she mentioned. “There have been tales within the papers on a regular basis and plenty of issues have been blown up, misconstrued and made seedy – once they actually weren’t.

“There was a variety of disgrace being thrown at me, with the press desperately attempting to make me a determine of sin and push this ‘fallen angel’ narrative. If I had let that disgrace in, or internalised it, my life may have gone in a really totally different approach.”

In the present day, Henson and Church keep a powerful relationship while co-parenting Dexter, and each have found love as soon as extra.

While the previous rugby icon wed long-term associate Katie Wilson Mould in 2019, Church exchanged vows with musician Jonathan Powell in 2017, having sought Henson’s blessing earlier than they started their romance.

Previous controversies

Past his relationship with Church, Henson repeatedly discovered himself thrust into the highlight for the incorrect causes, often touchdown in sizzling water with each the authorities and his golf equipment.

In 2007, he alongside three different people confronted fees of disorderly conduct following drunken antics on a prepare journey between London and Cardiff, although the case was subsequently dropped because of lack of proof.

In 2009, he obtained a police warning relating to his conduct throughout an evening out in Cardiff after Wales’ Six Nations conquer England.

Henson additionally discovered himself in deep trouble when consuming periods spiralled uncontrolled, leading to Cardiff axing him after merely eight appearances following his “inexcusable” and “inappropriate” intoxicated behaviour aboard a flight coming back from Glasgow in March 2012.

Twelve months later, an alcohol-fuelled comment he directed at new Bathtub teammate Carl Fearns resulted within the two-time Grand Slam champion being floored by the flanker throughout a group bonding night, with the altercation captured on CCTV. Nonetheless, Henson has since opened up on his previous behaviour and revealed he has been capable of perceive himself higher after discovering the ‘chimp’ that had been working his thoughts, main him to place boozing behind him.

Having “battled for a very long time” along with his personal thoughts, Henson was captivated by Professor Steve Peters’ mind-management guide The Chimp Paradox, which outlined learn how to management the ‘chimp’, or “the voice which tells you to do belongings you possibly should not.”

“I did not perceive the ideas I used to be having after video games the place I needed to exit and drink,” he defined in an interview with MailOnline. “They have been 1,000,000 miles away from my core values and targets in rugby.

“Now, having learn the guide, I perceive that for many of my rugby profession, the chimp was controlling me and working my life greater than I used to be. If I might discovered the guide whereas I used to be nonetheless enjoying rugby, I might 100 per cent have been a greater participant and possibly I would not have made the errors I did.

“In social interactions, I most likely want a drink as a result of I am an introvert,” he continued. “If I’ve a drink, I develop into extra of an extrovert and the chimp has extra confidence! I could be good enjoyable on an evening out! However now I select not to enter these environments. I am not tee-total. Within the final yr, I’ve most likely had one good drink. There’s a spot in rugby for sharing a drink together with your team-mates”.

Recent chapter as pub landlord

Whereas Henson has scaled again his alcohol consumption, these days he could be noticed serving drinks behind the bar, having taken over as landlord of The Fox and Hounds pub in St Brides Main, Vale of Glamorgan in 2019.

Following complete renovations and a restaurant makeover, the previous Wales star shortened the institution’s title to The Fox and runs the enterprise alongside his spouse Katie.

Discussing the enterprise with The Instances, Henson revealed: “I used to be coming to the tip of my profession, and it [the pub] had been sat right here for 18 months, two years. It was not good for the village, and I wanted one thing to do after rugby and to be busy, to not mourn rugby and get depressed, as they are saying everybody does.

“However watch out what you would like for as a result of that is so full-on. We need to really feel like we have achieved one thing with the pub. We’re perfectionists. We’re all in regards to the element.”

Henson, who is assumed to own a web value of roughly £800,000 after beforehand pocketing round £120,000 yearly throughout his enjoying peak, has additionally not too long ago laced up his rugby boots as soon as extra.