Lions star once compared to Beckham and dated Charlotte Church now works in pub

Irish Daily Mirror

26-07-2025

Once hailed as 'the David Beckham of rugby', Gavin Henson was on the brink of joining the sport's legends. There was a period when Wales' golden lad was frequently in the news, and not always for his exploits on the pitch.
As the British and Irish Lions gear up to clinch a series win over Australia this Saturday, fans will remember Henson's contribution to the 2005 tour of New Zealand. The adaptable fly-half and centre, who later flaunted his dance skills on Strictly Come Dancing during a rugby hiatus, travelled to New Zealand as part of the squad that took on a legendary All Blacks team.
Henson's glitzy image extended off the field, particularly due to his high-profile romance with singer Charlotte Church. Since hanging up his boots, the Welshman has kept himself occupied as the successful landlord of a pub near his residence, and Wales Online delves into Henson's Lions stint and his life after rugby. Gavin Henson's Lions tour
Henson's time with the Lions was short and somewhat sour. Taking on New Zealand, who were world champions at the time, was an intimidating task even for the most seasoned players, reports Wales Online.
At just 23, Henson was picked by coach Clive Woodward to join the Lions on their tour, making five appearances that summer. This included playing inside centre in the second Test, which ended in a crushing 48-18 defeat to the hosts, who went on to win the series 3-0.
Unfortunately, Henson bore some responsibility for New Zealand's opening try in that Wellington encounter. His missed tackle on Dan Carter allowed the All Blacks to race 70 metres upfield, with skipper Tana Umaga crossing for the hosts' first score. (Image: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
A troublesome stinger injury ruled Henson out of the third Test, despite having bagged two tries against Southland previously. By that stage, though, the Lions' chances of success had already evaporated after suffering a second straight Test defeat.
More recently, Henson correctly forecast that head coach Andy Farrell would pick his son, Owen, for the squad. He also put forward the intriguing proposition that England's Fin Smith should get the nod ahead of Scotland's Finn Russell for the Tests, though this hasn't materialised.
"The No. 10 spot is a big decision for Farrell to make... probably the biggest," he told The Rugby Paper in June. "Personally, I would start with Smith. He brings other players around him into the game, whereby with Finn Russell it is more of an individual thing. You need to bring the whole game around him – and I'm not sure we have the time with the limited warm-up games to do that." What is Gavin Henson's net worth?
Determining an exact figure for Henson's current wealth is tricky, but Yahoo!
earlier this year estimated his worth at around £800,000. This estimate is largely based on his rugby career, with little information available about his current earnings from running The Fox pub and any other business ventures he may have.
Henson first made a name for himself playing for Swansea before moving to the Ospreys, who were then a formidable force in European rugby. This move led to him securing a four-year contract with the region in 2005, which The Guardian reported was worth £750,000 (almost £190,000 annually before tax).
In the early days of professional rugby, such a sum represented a massive payday, particularly for someone just starting their career. After that deal ended, Henson played for several clubs including Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and the Dragons, although he never quite managed to recapture the brilliance of his early rise.
After retiring from rugby at Newport in 2019, the versatile star quickly moved into the hospitality industry by becoming the landlord of The Fox (formerly The Fox and Hounds). Today, Henson has turned his venture into a roaring success, often promoting his brand through speaking engagements. (Image: Mark Lewis)
In conversation with The Times, he said: "I was coming to the end of my career, and it [the pub] had been sat here for 18 months, two years. It was not nice for the village, and I needed something to do after rugby and to be busy, not to mourn rugby and get depressed, as they say everyone does.
"But be careful what you wish for because this is so full-on. We want to feel like we've achieved something with the pub. We're perfectionists. We're all about the detail." Charlotte Church romance
Henson's relationship with Church became public in 2005 when he was at his rugby peak.
Their first child, daughter Ruby, arrived in September 2007.
The pair then welcomed son Dexter in January 2009 and appeared headed for the altar after becoming engaged that year.
However, wedding plans were cancelled in mid-2010 when Henson and Church decided to go their separate ways.
Their five-year relationship was constantly under the spotlight, with extensive coverage in newspapers and celebrity magazines.
This relentless media scrutiny likely played a major role in their breakup, as both Henson and Church had faced intense public attention since their early careers began.
The former couple have remained tight-lipped about why they separated, though Church told Heat Magazine it was a joint choice: "When he proposed, I was overjoyed. It was amazing. I really was going to marry Gav and spend the rest of my life with him. (Image: Dave M. Benett, Getty Images)
"But then he came back from Norway [where he filmed reality show 71 Degrees North], and he'd changed, and I'd had time to think. We had both had a change of heart, so we were both of the same mind."
Now, it's understood they keep an amicable relationship whilst raising their teenage children together. Henson has since moved forward and wed Katie Wilson Mould in 2019, whilst Church married musician Jonathan Powell in 2017.