Biography
Well-groomed Gavin is a rugby sensation, bagging Grand Slam victories for Wales in 2005 and 2008.
He has played a variety of positions, including fly-half, fullback and inside centre.
He's frequently in the press for both his injuries and his private life - particularly his 5-year relationship with singer Charlotte Church.
Career
Gavin played rugby for his school in Bridgend. When he was 18 he had offers to sign professionally with Maesteg, Llanelli and Swansea. He chose Swansea - even though they were offering the least pay.
He made his Wales debut against Japan in 2001, followed by matches against Romania and Uruguay - where he scored his first try in an International. Gavin was later named the International Board's Young Player of the Year.
In 2003, regional rugby was launched in Wales and Gavin joined the Ospreys, playing to a much larger audience.
In 2005 he was instrumental in helping Wales win the Grand Slam in the Six Nations. He was then selected by Clive Woodward for the 2005 British Lions tour of New Zealand. In the second match he suffered a groin injury which ended his hopes of playing in the final Test.
An Achilles tendon injury disrupted his 2006-07 season, leading to Gavin not being selected for the 2007 Rugby World Cup after he failed to prove his fitness following his recovery from injury.
He was recalled to the Welsh squad following the 2007 World Cup - in 2008, he played in all of Wales' 2008 Six Nations games, and the team went on to win the championship that year.
Gavin has spent the past 18 months on unpaid leave from his club Ospreys - he was frustrated by a catalogue of injuries that have blighted him since 2005 and felt he needed time out to let his body heal.
There have been press rumours that he is considering retiring from the game, but both Gavin and Ospreys have issued statements denying this.
Since he last played, Gavin's weight has dropped by three stone as he hasn't had to maintain an intense gym routine. Critics say he faces a huge battle to get back to where he was in the game, both physically and mentally.
Background
Gavin's father and grandfather played for Maesteg, and several uncles from his mother's side were keen rugby players too.
In 2004, Gavin started dating Charlotte Church. The press interest was immediate and intense. In September 2007, Charlotte gave birth to their first child, Ruby Megan. In January 2009, Dexter Lloyd was born.
In 2010, Gavin proposed to Charlotte on her birthday (24th Feb). Six weeks later, they announced that they had separated. Henson later said that they feared their rows would affect their children.
Trivia
In 1999, when he was just 17, Gavin broke his leg and was in plaster for months. He says he was so disgusted by the amount of leg hair on the plaster when it was finally removed that he started shaving his legs: "Once you've started shaving, you have to do it all the time!"
He admits to shaving his chest too, but only indulges in fake tan for nights out. It takes him about 90 minutes to get ready to go out.
He wears gold and silver boots on the pitch.
This summer, Gavin took part in a TV show called Human Guinea Pig for Bravo, in which he allowed a direct hit of 750,000 volts from a specially designed generator to make contact with his head.
He's also taken part in a reality celebrity show called 71 Degrees North for ITV1, which will air this autumn. Filmed entirely in Norway, the show tests the strength of celebrities as they compete to reach the North Cape, one of the most alien environments on Earth.
Are you a fan of Gavin and Katya?
Why not join in the discussion at Gavin & Katya's Blog page - the home of ""!
Dancing partner
Gavin Henson will be dancing with Katya Virshilas.
