Rugby:Gavin Henson's hopes of claiming a place in Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the Six Nations have been dealt a blow with the news that he will be out for three weeks with a torn calf muscle.
The Saracens centre limped off after coming on as a replacement during Saturday’s 43-20 Heineken Cup hammering at the hands of Leinster on Saturday and the diagnosis means that he will be unavailable for Wales’ opening Six Nations engagement with England on February 4th at the Millennium Stadium.
The 28-year-old has been desperate to get as much game time under his belt as possible in an effort to prove to Gatland that he merits a rapid recall to the national set-up having only returned from a 20-month self-imposed exile from the game on Boxing Day.
But it would appear his hopes may have been extinguished by this injury setback, particularly as Gatland is not short of midfield options with James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin and Jonathan Davies all available.
Henson was not the only name on a lengthy injury list for the Londoners after their abject display at the RDS. Fiji back Michael Tagicakibau is also out for three weeks with a hamstring tear while lock Hugh Vyvyan is out for a fortnight after spraining an ankle.
Former England skipper Steve Borthwick will undergo a scan later today on the shoulder injury he picked up as Sarries look to bounce back when they host Clermont Auvergne in their final Pool Two clash on Friday night.
