THE man who helped launch Gavin Henson's top-flight career reflected on the Osprey's entry into Strictly Come Dancing before declaring: "It's a crying shame that such a rugby talent is being wasted."

Clive Griffiths, backs coach at Swansea when Henson burst on the scene as a teenager, doesn't believe that the centre's decision to become a contestant in the BBC show alongside former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, 72-year-old magician Paul Daniels and ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton will prove terminal to his sporting ambitions.

But it will leave him with an uphill challenge to feature in the next World Cup as his Strictly commitments could run until the end of the year.

Henson is on unpaid leave at the Ospreys and has not played in 18 months, but Griffiths said it was still sad that one of rugby's most prodigious natural talents should put a dance show before the game at the age of 28.

"The first thing to say is that it's a free country and Gav can do what he likes," said Griffiths, the former Wales defence coach.

"But what this does is send out a message that rugby is low on his list of priorities these days. If you didn't know what he was capable of, you might even think he had completely abandoned the game — that's it.

"It's a crying shame that such a talent is going to waste.

"He is 28 and should be in his pomp, at peak fitness and using his experience and skills to maximum effect. He should be looking forward to a Heineken Cup campaign, an autumn series, a Six Nations and then a World Cup.

"Instead, he is in the wilderness and readying himself to appear on Strictly Come Dancing.

"It is up to him. But I just think he could have done that after his rugby days were over."

Logic suggests it will take a lot for Henson's World Cup hopes to be realised, particularly if he continues to be out of the game until the new year.

And it will take some doing for him to play for the Ospreys before his contract expires at the end of the season, with the received wisdom being that professional players who have been sidelined for lengthy periods need to ease their way back gradually.

But Griffiths believes Henson could confound the doubters by getting up to speed faster than is normal.

"He will know it will be hugely difficult to come back into the fast lane and get back to where he was," said Griffiths.

"But, Gavin being Gavin, it wouldn't surprise me if he hit top form within a month of returning.

"You do not lose talent like he has. When he was coming through at Swansea it was obvious we had something special on our hands. He took a pass near the half-way line once, turned and planted over a drop-goal. He had this ability to create something out of nothing.

"I remember Garin Jenkins, who was old school and proud of it, looking askance at this kid with a tan and spiky hair. But Gavin soon proved himself. As well as being able to run and kick the ball, he also carried a heck of a belt in the tackle.

"I had no problems with him at all. He was easy to coach and keen to learn, a player who loved the game and just wanted to get better."

Griffiths intends to watch Henson on Strictly, adding: "I just hope he doesn't pick up his partner in the way he picked up Mathew Tait in the 2005 Wales-England game."

mark.orders@swwmedia.co.uk