• Former Wales centre faces uncertain future in rugby
• Airline Flybe ban Henson for six months
Gavin Henson faces an uncertain future after his sacking by Cardiff Blues on Monday for drunken antics on a flight from Glasgow left him looking for his fourth club in little more than a year.
The 30-year old, who departed Saracens at the start of last year and joined Toulon on a short-term contract which was not renewed after he served a suspension for sparking a fight with team-mates in a bar, had his contract with the Blues ripped up following an investigation into his behaviour by the club.
Henson had issued an unreserved apology in which he admitted drinking after the Blues' RaboDirect Pro 12 defeat in Glasgow on Friday night and continuing to do so on the flight to Cardiff the following morning. He finished by saying he hoped to remain with the Blues, but his six months with the region, who have a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster in Dublin this Saturday, ended after a two-hour management meeting.
He was also banned from using the airline concerned, Flybe, for six months over conduct that prompted complaints from passengers. The company stressed it had a zero tolerance to unruly behaviour on its aircraft. "The safety of our passengers and staff is our No1 priority," it said.
The Blues' chief executive, Richard Holland, said the region had a duty to their supporters and sponsors to protect their good name. Henson's contract was due to end next month and he was looking for an extension, although the financial difficulties facing regional rugby in Wales made it questionable whether the Blues would retain a six-figure contract player who had not established himself in the first team – he started six matches after making his debut in December – and who had a history of injuries.
"I am not sure where Gavin goes from here," said Jonathan Davies, the former Wales captain. "I am a big fan of his because he brings something different to the game, but he is not a 21-year old any more and he has not shown a great appetite for the game when he has played. He does not drink a lot but when he does so he loses a lot of control. He has said that rugby is the most important thing in his life but that does not seem to be the case."
Henson did not comment on his sacking. He was in Wales's Six Nations squad and had a chance of going on the summer tour to Australia but his international career would appear to be over after 33 caps and, after leaving the Aviva Premiership, Top 14 and Pro 12 on a low in the past 14 months, he will have to convince potential future employers that he is committed to rugby.
One of Henson's former clubs, Saracens, are continuing discussions with the Rugby Football Union over the release of their head coach Andy Farrell from his contract to join Stuart Lancaster's England management team. Both sides are looking for a quick resolution to the talks.
The England scrum-half Ben Youngs has been banned for a week after being cited for foul play during Leicester's victory at London Irish last month. He is free again to play on Thursday having been suspended internally by the Tigers last week, missing the match against Worcester.
The Worcester outside-half Andy Goode was sent off in that match for a dangerous charge on Tom Croft but a disciplinary panel on Monday did not ban him, ruling the sending off was sufficient. A citing against the Harlequins' flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu for a dangerous charge on the Bath outside-half Tom Heathcote was dismissed.