GAVIN Henson is banned from the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup showdown with Leicester on Sunday because of what the region calls a ‘rugby related internal disciplinary decision’.
The loss of the Welsh star will be a big blow to the Neath-Swansea side’s hopes of defeating one of Europe’s great sides at their formidable Welford Road fortress.
The region will not comment further on the reasons behind his exclusion and the centre will also miss their Heineken Cup tie against French side Perpignan a week tomorrow.
When the Ospreys released their side on their website they commented on his omission: "Gavin Henson is excluded from the next two Ospreys fixtures as the result of a rugby related internal disciplinary decision."
They are already without Wales centre Sonny Parker who has been ruled out for up to four weeks after suffering an injury to his pectoral muscle in the win over Harlequins in the EDF Energy Cup last weekend.
Andrew Bishop and Tommy Bowe make up their centre partnership to take on the Tigers.
Newport-born Wales captain Ryan Jones skippers the side, former Newport Gwent Dragons lock Ian Gough starts on the bench while Richard Hibbard is preferred at hooker to Ebbw Vale-born Huw Bennett.
Ospreys: L Byrne, N Walker, T Bowe, A Bishop, S Williams, J Hook, R Wells, P James, R Hibbard, A Jones, A W Jones, I Evans, J Thomas, R Jones (capt), M Holah
Replacements: D Biggar, R Webb, T Smith, D Jones, H Bennett, I Gough, F Tiatia
