NEWS ROUND-UP:THE OSPREYS were last night considering their legal position after Gavin Henson trained with Saracens this week, without the region's knowledge.

The Wales centre, who hopes to join the Vicarage Road club by the end of the week, has not played for 18 months after taking a sabbatical to get over a number of injuries and help look after his two young children.

His contract with the Ospreys lasts until the end of this season but his lawyers have argued it has become void because he has not been paid – at his own insistence – for more than a year.

The Ospreys say the contract is binding and that by talking to Saracens, never mind training with them, Henson is in breach of it.

Mike Cuddy, the Ospreys’ managing director, would not comment on whether the region would sanction a move to Saracens.

When asked if they had consented to Henson training with the Premiership club on Monday, he said he was not prepared to speak until this morning.

“The deal is not done,” said the Saracens chief executive, Edward Griffiths. “There are obstacles but we hope to make an announcement by the end of the week.

“We’re in contact with the Ospreys because they hold his registration and have been involved in developing the player.”

Henson is also appearing on the BBC television’s Strictly Come Dancing series, a commitment that could last until Christmas.

Henson’s ambition of featuring in Wales’ World Cup squad next autumn will be tough for him to achieve, given his prolonged absence from the game.

And Wales coach Warren Gatland’s squad for Tests against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand next month does not include any players currently plying their trade in England, with Sale Sharks scrumhalf Dwayne Peel and Wasps number eight Andy Powell among those who missed out.

“It is not easy when you are not playing in Wales,” said Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins.

“If he does sign for Saracens – and I haven’t got a clue what he will do – I am sure he will be under a similar contract to all the other boys, so it won’t be easy for him to turn up (with Wales).”

Henson has won 31 caps for Wales and also toured New Zealand with the 2005 British and Irish Lions, featuring in one Test.

He last played international rugby in March 2009, and the final game of Wales’ Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Cardiff.

Matthew Rees, meanwhile, has vowed to lead from the front when he captains Wales in their opening autumn Test match against Australia next week. But the Scarlets hooker will skipper an injury-hit team after Wales’ casualty count climbed yesterday with the loss of two more British and Irish Lions.

Fullback Lee Byrne had already been ruled out of the first three November international appointments with Australia, South Africa and Fiji after breaking his hand while on Magners League duty for the Ospreys.

Byrne’s Ospreys colleague Ryan Jones, Wales captain last season and firm favourite to retain the post this autumn, will also miss the Wallabies clash because of a torn calf muscle.

A decision on Jones’ availability, or otherwise, for the remaining November fixtures will be made after Australia’s Millennium Stadium visit.

Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, is to leave the Wales squad after suffering ankle ligament damage that will sideline him for three to four weeks.

Halfpenny, a strong contender to deputise for Byrne, has been replaced by three times-capped Newport Gwent Dragons wing Aled Brew.

Wales boss Gatland has so far not summoned a replacement for injured backrow forwards Jones and Rob McCusker, although there is speculation that Wasps number eight Andy Powell could be called up sooner, rather than later.

Wales have only claimed one Tri Nations scalp from nine attempts during Gatland’s coaching reign.

And chances of improving that sequence at Australia’s expense are now clearly not as good as they might have been with Byrne, Jones and Halfpenny all unavailable.

Rees though, will be more concerned with those players alongside him on Saturday week after gaining Gatland’s vote above other potential captaincy candidates such as lock Alun-Wyn Jones, outhalf Stephen Jones and flanker Martyn Williams.

“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk in yet. I am sure it will take a few days,” said Rees, of his appointment.

“I think captaining the Scarlets has brought me on as a player, and I am looking forward to the job in hand.

“The most important thing is leading up-front, being quite vocal on the pitch and taking control.”