REGAN Grace hopes to line up alongside one of his boyhood heroes in Wales’ World Cup bid – Gavin Henson.
The RU icon has crossed codes at the age of 39 and signed for League One side West Wales Raiders, opening the prospect of him on the biggest stage in the Autumn.
Henson flirted with rugby league in the past and was approached to join his country’s 13-a-side team at a training camp in 2019.
Now he has made the jump, St Helens winger Grace would love to play alongside Henson for his nation, after idolising him in his younger days.
He said: “It would be something to line up alongside Gavin for Wales.
“I remember watching him thinking, ‘He’s a player.’ Everyone wanted to be Gavin Henson when he was younger.
“I watched him in Test matches and in things like the Six Nations and he was the player most young lads looked up to.
“Having Gavin is huge. He’s always been a big figure in union but it would be great if he can represent Wales in league in the future.
“He played a bit like a league player when he was in rugby union in terms of whacking people!
“Had he come over earlier in his career, he’d have been a really big player in rugby league. He was big in rugby union, though!”
The Dragons’ next international is likely to be against World Cup debutants Jamaica in June before John Kear’s side takes on Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and powerhouses Tonga at the England-based tournament.
Wales Rugby League chief executive Gareth Kear revealed: “He’s been on our radar, myself and John spoke to Gavin about being part of our enlarged train-on squad with a view to giving him an opportunity to train and see how he would adapt to league.
“In the end it didn’t happen but the signing of Gavin Henson is a big statement.
“Gavin will be 39 when the season starts but I’m sure he will attract some new fans and hopefully he can bring some flair, a few 40/20s and much needed wins for the Raiders.”
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