Gavin Henson: Bath agree new contract for Wales back

Gavin Henson has signed a new one-year contract with Premiership play-off contenders Bath.

The Wales international, who has 33 caps for his country, arrived at The Rec last summer on a season-long deal.

Henson, 32, struggled with injury at the start of his Bath tenure but has now played 20 times for the club, including 12 Premiership appearances.

"We're pleased to have him on board," Bath head coach Mike Ford told BBC Points West.

"Gavin has had a stop-start season but since Christmas he's got healthy and has forced his way back into the squad.

"He looks after himself very well and is the ultimate professional. We're really pleased he's staying and so are the boys."

The announcement of the deal comes after Bath's Amlin Challenge Cup 39-7 win over Brive, in which Henson assisted in two tries and was named man of the match.

Bridgend-born Henson has not spent more than one season at any club since leaving Ospreys in 2009, having a year out from the game before spells at Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues and London Welsh. He has not played for Wales since 2011.

He agreed to move to Bath in June, and the club said he was signed as cover at fly-half, centre and full-back.

His tenure in the West Country got off to a rocky start when he was involved in an altercation with team-mate Carl Fearns on a night out.

Both players were fined and given warnings by the club after the incident.

After recovering from a rib injury in September, Henson made his Bath debut as a substitute against Newcastle, but was sidelined during November with a shoulder problem.

However, he has impressed enough in the latter part of the season to earn a new deal at Bath, who are currently fourth in the Premiership.

Henson had been linked with a move back to Wales with Newport Gwent Dragons but director of rugby Lyn Jones, Henson's mentor at Ospreys, said the deal was "sadly" not happening.