And he revealed a growing desire to return to the international fold in the problem No.10 jersey as the countdown to next year’s World Cup begins in earnest.
He wasn’t picked for the 2003 and 2007 tournaments and missed Wales’ charge to the 2011 semi-finals in New Zealand after breaking his right arm during a warm-up match with England at the Millennium Stadium.
That was the now 32-year-old’s last appearance for his country but he’s desperate for another chance
He insisted: “That’s why I’m still playing rugby. As long as I still have a chance of playing for Wales, I’ll continue.â€
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Bath have refused to release the utility back, who came on at centre with 16 minutes remaining of Bath’s 30-16 Amlin Challenge final defeat to Northampton Saints at Cardiff Arms Park, because of a blanket ban imposed by Premier Rugby Limited.
PRL is the umbrella organisation which looks after the interests of England’s top-flight clubs and refuses to release non-English players for international duty outside the International Rugby Board’s official Test windows.
The next window doesn’t open until June 1 and Wales’ Probables versus Possibles trial for spots in coach Gatland’s 31-strong squad for two Tests with the Springboks and a warm-up meeting with Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth takes place 29 hours earlier.
Bath would expect a bumper fine – Northampton Saints were clobbered with a £60,000 punishment for allowing George North, despite the winger having a release clause in his contract to play, in Wales’ clash with Australia last December – if they broke ranks and allowed Henson and prop Paul James to participate at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium on Friday night.
“I suppose I could play next week in the trial now but PRL won’t let Bath release me,†lamented Henson.
“I genuinely hope they might reconsider it but I’ve not heard anything so, at the moment, I don’t think I’ll be able to play.
“I looked at the Probables versus Possibles match-ups and think I was third-choice.
“At least being picked for the trial means the Wales door is still open, so that’s a good thing.â€
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Thirty-three-times Wales capped international Henson hopes Gatland might gamble and take him to South Africa with outside-half Rhys Priestland out of it because of a knee injury and Leicester Tigers’ up-and-coming play-maker Owen Williams waiting for the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
“I would love to get back playing for Wales and I’d like to play 10 more,†confided Henson.
“You never know what’s going to happen but I hope I get another chance with Wales and would love to go to South Africa.â€
Former Scarlets player Williams appeared in front of a RFU panel last Tuesday after being accused of gouging during Leicester’s Aviva play-off semi-final defeat at Northampton but the matter was deferred to a later date.
He also won’t be released for the trial, leaving Gatland in a quandary, with a possible ban hanging over the uncapped Williams and the Welsh camp’s knowledge of him limited because they haven’t worked with him much.
Wales have used three No.10s this season in Priestland, Dan Biggar and James Hook but have failed to settle on a first-choice.
Worries over who will occupy the position at the England-hosted World Cup has resulted in Gatland and Cardiff Blues attempting to lure Super 15 star Gareth Anscombe from back-to-back tournament champions Chiefs.
The former New Zealand Under-20 pivot – he guided the Baby Blacks to glory at the Junior World Championship three years ago – is mulling over his future at the Hamilton-based franchise.
He qualifies for Wales through his Welsh-born mother and remains eligible to wear red under IRB regulations.
Gatland has excused North and Saracens prop Rhys Gill – their clubs clash in the Aviva final at Twickenham next Saturday – from the first Wales trial to be held since 2002.
And Ryan Jones will play in Bristol’s back-to-back Championship play-offs with London Welsh for promotion to the Premiership.
They bought the record Wales captain from the Ospreys for £50,000 so he could aid their push for a return to the top flight.
But the second leg takes place the night before Gatland’s squad departs for South Africa, giving the Wales boss another unwelcome headache.
France-based Racing Metro trio Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Dan Lydiate, and relegated Perpignan pair Luke Charteris and Hook have also been picked for the trial.
Only back-row forward Lydiate, who is battling to be fit for the tour after suffering a hamstring injury, is likely to miss it.
Gatland has warned players it’s a “full-on trial†for places and players who drop out of it could suffer repercussions.
He has urged PRL to reconsider its position for just the trial match, saying: “We hope common sense prevails.
“We understand Premier Rugby want to protect their product but I don’t understand why players who have finished their seasons would not be released for a game.â€
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