Controversial centre Gavin Henson has been named in the Wales squad despite his lack of match practice © Getty Images

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Players/Officials Gavin Henson

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Gavin Henson has been named in Wales' squad for the autumn Tests despite his chronic lack of match practice. Ospreys centre Henson has only started one game in the last six months.

He was sidelined by a serious ankle injury for most of that time, but was then hit by a two-match ban from the Ospreys for internal disciplinary reasons that has only just expired. Henson is set to return from suspension when the Ospreys continue their Anglo-Welsh Cup campaign against Worcester next Sunday.

But Wales coach Warren Gatland has had no hesitation naming him in a 32-man squad that includes five uncapped players. Gatland said, "Gavin was outstanding for us during the Six Nations last year. He is one of our world-class players, and when fit, he is always going to be in our thoughts."

Wales play South Africa on November 8, followed by quick-fire appointments with Canada, New Zealand and Australia. And Gatland has called on a handful of players with no Test match experience.

In the forwards, there is a call for Sale Sharks prop Eifion Roberts and Cardiff Blues back-row forward Andy Powell, while behind the scrum Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar and Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts also feature.

Gatland said, "This squad is larger than I would normally select, and we may reduce it after we get the first two games under our belts. But the current size reflects the fact that we could be asking some players to turn out three times in the space of 13 days.

"The Ospreys players, for example, are currently due to play for their region on the Sunday before the South Africa game, and with the Canada match coming only six days later, we will need to use our squad correctly."

Wales squad for autumn Tests against South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia:

Backs: M Stoddart (Scarlets), L Byrne (Ospreys), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), M Jones (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys), G Henson (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), S Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), D Peel (Sale Sharks), G Cooper (Gloucester).

Forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), E Roberts (Sale Sharks), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), H Bennett (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Scarlets), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, captain).

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