OVER the game's long history rugby has had its fair share and more of bad apples. Former internationalists have taken unpaid holidays at Her Majesty's pleasure, been involved in lurid divorce cases, been banged-up overnight after over-indulging in the sauce and other boyish high spirits.
I could name at least a couple of Scottish international luminaries who could give George Best a run for his money when it came to having carnival knowledge of willing women - but, perhaps because our rugby heroes have long been decent middle-class chaps from the professions, few of their misadventures have made the papers. This was, of course, aided by the rugby writers' vow of Omerta: "What happens on-tour, stays on-tour" and all that.
Sadly, now top rugby players are professional sportsmen, and journalists, even rugby writers, are expected to trawl the gutters alongside their red-top rottweiler colleagues, the previous rules no longer apply.
They might be fitter, more-dedicated and by and large better-educated than their round ball cousins - but, modern rugby players are now fair game for the tabloids.
Which brings us to Gavin Henson; laid-out this week by a Bath team-mate, apparently one who took exception to the orange Welshman's behaviour towards members of the opposite sex in a bar.
Give that man a medal, say I; or, if I can lower the tone, perhaps wee Charlotte might fancy popping over the Severn Crossing to say a very personal "thank you". Perhaps, had some of his Welsh team mates stuck one on Henson, back when he was the Golden Child of Welsh rugby, he'd be something more-substantial than a fading relic of the superstar he once threatened to be.
When it comes to anti-social behaviour, to dragging rugby's name through the muck, Gavin-boyo has few, if any, peers. He's been an over-grown, spoilt kid for years, the punch has long been coming.
Let's hope, for his and Bath' sake, given the investment they have made in Henson's alleged but long-hidden genius, it does the trick. At his best, he's far-too good a player to be more-noted for his off-field failings than his ability to win a game single-handed, assuming he still has that rare quality.
SPEAKING of the Welsh's ability to talk themselves up, or even into trouble. I had a quiet chortle at this week's Scarlets press release, bigging-up new signing John Barclay.
John boy is, apparently, looking forward to learning from the Welsh Lions he will be playing alongside this season. FFS, talk about media spin. Barclay, at his best, is as good a back row forward as there is in world rugby (with the obvious exception of McCaw of course). At his best, he's better than anyone the Welsh can put-out.
Trouble is, Barclay has been playing inside his comfort zone for at least the last two seasons, secure in the knowledge his Glasgow place was secure and, even if Robinson or Johnson favoured others, such as Ross Rennie, given the attrition rate among breakaways today and Scotland's paucity of resources, international trips and caps would still come along.
Now he has gone to Llanelli, Barclay is way out of his comfort zone and will have to up his game. I have every confidence in his ability to do this, which can only be good for Scotland - even without the Scarlets spin machine trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
Barclay can teach the Welsh a thing or two and, I hope he does. It would be nice to see the Killer Bees re-united as Scotland's brakaway unit in the new season.
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