GAVIN HENSON HAS publicly apologised for the “inexcusable” drinking and in-flight misbehaviour which has left his Cardiff Blues career hanging by a thread.

The Welsh international hit the headlines against over the weekend after he was suspended indefinitely by Cardiff following an incident on board a flight home from their RaboDirect Pro12 match against the Glasgow Warriors.

Henson, 30, came on as a substitute for the final 15 minutes of Friday’s game at Firhill, which Cardiff lost 31-3. After the defeat, he went out drinking in Glasgow and carried on his session into the early hours of Saturday morning on the team’s 7am flight back to Cardiff.

In his statement, Henson said that he is “truly embarrassed” and takes full responsibility for his “stupid” decision to carry on drinking on the aircraft.

“I would like to publicly apologise for drinking on that flight,” Henson’s statement said. “I admit I had been out drinking in Glasgow on the Friday night following our game against Glasgow Warriors and had stupidly carried on drinking on the flight, for which I am truly embarrassed about.

“I can see that drinking and behaving inappropriately on that flight as a professional sportsman at 7am has caused offence to members of the public, the Flybe Airline staff and passengers.”

Cardiff management are due to meet this morning to discuss the incident and Henson’s future at the club. The Blues became the utility back’s fourth club in the space of a year when they offered an eight-month contract in October.

The Cardiff deal was seen as a career lifeline for Henson, who saw his hopes of a long-term deal with French club Toulon dashed following an alleged nightclub row with his team-mates which earned him a two-week suspension last April.

Gavin Henson’s statement in full

I am releasing this statement in relation to the press reports and the fact that I have been suspended by the Cardiff Blues for drinking on a flight returning to Cardiff from Glasgow on Saturday 31st March.

I would like to publicly apologise for drinking on that flight.

I admit I had been out drinking in Glasgow on the Friday night following our game against Glasgow Warriors and had stupidly carried on drinking on the flight, for which I am truly embarrassed about.

I can see that drinking and behaving inappropriately on that flight as a professional sportsman at 7am has caused offence to members of the public, the Flybe Airline staff and passengers.

I know that I have let my team mates, coaches, management, sponsors and indeed my family down with my actions. Drinking on that plane was inexcusable and I know that I must take responsibility for it.

I also accept that in the light of this I need to learn from it and ensure this does not happen again.

I am prepared to co operate 100% with the Cardiff Blues wishes and will do everything that I need to do in order to make amends and enable the Blues to focus on our biggest game of the season next weekend.

I remain fully focused and committed to Cardiff Blues and I hope they can accept my apology.

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