Henson is in the preliminary Wales World Cup Squad Wales rugby star Gavin Henson is to star in a new TV dating show where he hopes to meet “the right girl”.
Henson, who has two children with singer Charlotte Church, will has been cast as The Bachelor in a UK version of the hit US programme.
Channel 5 said viewers should “expect flirting, bitching and heartfelt emotion” as 25 contestants compete to win the sportsman’s heart.
Henson said he was looking forward to going on some “incredible dates”.
“I’m so excited to have been cast as The Bachelor as I really feel the time is right for me to find a girl to hopefully spend the rest of my life with.
“I’ve always been dedicated to my rugby and continue to train hard but as the season draws to an end I can focus on meeting the right girl.
“It can be hard in my situation to meet women and The Bachelor will give me the unique opportunity to go on some incredible dates and spend quality time getting to know amazing women from all over the UK.”
Among those taking part in the series are models, a web developer and twins who switched from athletics to property development.
It is not the rugby player’s first foray into the world of reality TV, having previously featured on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing and on ITV1 adventure series 71 Degrees North.
In The Bachelor, contestants will be whittled down through a variety of group dates and one-to-one meetings as Henson chooses the ideal partner.
“It can be hard in my situation to meet women and The Bachelor will give me the unique opportunity to go on some incredible dates and spend quality time getting to know amazing women from all over the UK”
Gavin Henson
‘True love’
The hopefuls will all be living together in a villa in southern Europe with Henson based in a nearby bachelor pad.
Channel 5 said viewers should “expect flirting, bitching and heartfelt emotion as the contestants do whatever it takes to impress Gavin”.
Jeff Ford, director of programmes, said: “Gavin Henson is the perfect bachelor and is hoping to find his ideal partner.
“I’m sure the viewers will enjoy this high-energy and exciting journey as we follow Gavin in his quest to find true love.”
The former Ospreys player has been included in Wales’ 45-man preliminary World Cup squad, and featured in Wales’ defeat by the Barbarians earlier this month.
A Welsh Rugby Union spokesman said Henson was required to report for training on 30 June, ahead of fixtures against England and Argentina this summer.
The spokesman added: “The squad are currently committed to personalised training programmes in and around prescribed holiday periods, meaning some are already onsite at WRU headquarters and others have been given regimes to follow away from camp depending on their personal requirements, like Gavin, or are resting or undergoing rehab.
“Gavin is fulfilling a work commitment which was in place before he was selected for national squad duty and doing so in the full knowledge of the Wales management team.
“He has already undergone periods of extra conditioning work and is maintaining constant contact with the WRU’s head of strength and conditioning Adam Beard.”
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