Injured Henson out of opener

Gavin Henson could miss the start of the new English Premiership season after the former Wales threequarter suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in London Welsh's 17-23 friendly loss against Llanelli Scarlets.

Henson suffered the injury in a tackle by Deacon Manu in the opening minute and before being replaced shortly before half-time.

He now faces a fight to be fit to race Leicester on September 2.

"We're hoping for the best, but if it's the worst he's not the first player to get injured and we'll just have to be patient and deal with it," head coach Lyn Jones told the club website.

Henson was taken to hospital and given X-rays and tests after he was tackled by Deacon Manu in the first minute of the match.

Jones added: "These are things you've got to deal with in rugby. You've got to deal with thunderbolts all the time.

"No player wants to get injured in a pre-season friendly because it's hugely frustrating because of all the hard work that's been done leading up to the start of the season."

The 30-year-old Henson was sacked by Cardiff Blues, his fourth club in little more than a year, in April over his drunken behaviour on a flight returning from a game in Glasgow.

Henson played an integral part in Wales' 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam campaigns but injuries and off-field problems have interrupted a career that also includes a tour of New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions seven years ago.