Gavin Henson on autism, shaving his legs and struggles with rugby fame

Gavin Henson, the former Welsh rugby star known for his flamboyant style on and off the field, has revealed that his recent autism diagnosis has helped him understand his lifelong struggles with fame and social interactions in Cardiff seven hours ago, explaining how the condition affected his ability to navigate the pressures of celebrity culture in rugby. A key figure in Wales' Grand Slam winning teams of 2005 and 2008, Henson became one of Wales' most recognizable faces through his relationship with singer Charlotte Church and TV appearances like The Bachelor and Strictly Come Dancing. The 44-year-old admitted that the seemingly ultra-confident player with immaculate hair, shaved legs and fake tan was a world away from the socially awkward person he was off the field, describing his public and private personas as 'two extremes' and finding social interactions 'really hard.' Henson explained how he always wanted to be a famous rugby player and never went out drinking with school friends, but when he started playing for Swansea RFC at 18, he found drinking was a big part of rugby culture, leading him to conform to fit in with teammates. Despite having 'amazing experiences' as part of the star-studded Ospreys side and winning 33 caps for Wales, Henson admitted he 'didn't quite fit into the norm' and believes his autism diagnosis would have helped people understand him better. While acknowledging the challenges autism presented socially, Henson credits the condition with helping him excel on the field through 'hyper-focus' that allowed him to 'break down [his] whole game and try to perfect every part of it,' a mindset he still applies today playing for local side Pencoed. The former rugby star, whose shaved legs became iconic after commentator Eddie Butler famously shouted 'shave away Gavin, shave away' following his winning penalty against England in 2005, now enjoys a quieter life running a pub in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he finds comfort in 'silence' and 'pot washing' without having to talk to people.