Glasgow snap up Crusaders talent

Glasgow Warriors (33/1 RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final outright with bet365) have shown their intentions for the rest of the RaboDirect Pro12 season with the signing of Crusaders winger Sean Maitland.

The 24-year-old, who has Scottish grandparents, is waiting on a visa and the completion of a medical before making the move from New Zealand.

Having not played for the All Blacks in his career so far, Maitland may well be looked upon as a potential Scotland (14/1 Six Nations 2013 outright with bet365) international of the future.

Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend has admitted he is excited by the prospect of having the utility back, who is the cousin of Australia fly-half Quade Cooper, at the club.

He said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming a player of Sean Maitland’s calibre to Glasgow Warriors.

“The back three is an area of the team where we already have a number of excellent options, and Sean will provide a further layer of quality as we enter another busy phase of the season.

“His try-scoring record in Super Rugby speaks for itself, and he’s also a player who has a big appetite for self-improvement. He will be a fantastic addition to our squad and will, I’m sure, be very popular with our supporters.”

Roberts unsure on Blues future

Wales and Cardiff Blues (20/1 Regular season winner with bet365) centre Jamie Roberts is still undecided on his future as his current contract comes to an end at the close of the season.

Roberts, who has been suffering with injuries over the past year, started his first game in six months for the Blues when they ran out 34-18 winners over Treviso on Saturday.

The 25-year-old scored in his return to the game and further enhanced his credentials – with British and Irish Lions caps already to his name he has become one of the most sought after players in Europe.

The Wales international had the opportunity to join Toulouse earlier in the year but opted not to join James Hook and Gethin Jenkins in making the move across the channel.

“I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing next year. I’m completely undecided,” Roberts told the BBC.

“I haven’t got a clue if I’m staying yet or going. Obviously my contract’s up and I will have finished my medical degree.

“There’s a lot to be resolved and hopefully over the next couple of months we’ll get that all sorted. It’s quite an exciting place to be. It’s the first time in my life where I won’t have any commitment with any university work. It is a big crossroads, and who knows. I haven’t got a clue.”

Exiles clarify Henson comments

London Irish director of rugby Toby Booth has all but ruled out a swoop for Wales back Gavin Henson by claiming a deal has not been considered by the Exiles (Irish 11/1 to win the Aviva Premiership Grand Final with Stan James).

Henson is looking to quit the Ospreys early – his deal expires next summer – although he has been out for the game for 18 months on unpaid leave following injury problems.

The 28-year-old has already signalled his intent to leave his Magners League region for London to be nearer his children, but so far there have been no takers (Ospreys 11/1 – to win the Heineken Cup with Stan James).

Last week, Booth suggested he would like to sign Henson and would hold talks if the player secured his release for free, however he has now moved to clarify his comments.

Speaking after Sunday’s 23-16 win over Gloucester, Booth said: “I’ve had no contact on that front – the situation is pretty clear from our point of view.

“It is not us doing Gavin Henson a favour, if he feels he wants to contribute we will have a conversation.

“But we haven’t spoken to him, and I don’t expect to speak to him. We haven’t considered it.

“It would be my decision, but we haven’t held a conversation about it. There is less than a one percent chance.”

Edwards denies Henson talk

Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards says there is no truth to the rumours that have linked the London club with signing Ospreys (12/1 Heineken Cup outright with Stan James) and Wales centre Gavin Henson.

The 28-year-old hasn’t played rugby for the last 18 months after deciding to take an unpaid break from the sport in order to recover from a series of injuries and pursue other avenues.

Henson, who is 16/1 with Stan James to win the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing this year, has expressed a desire to get back into rugby in order to secure a place in the Wales squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

He has been told by Wales head coach Warren Gatland he needs to be playing regularly at a high-profile club in order to stand a chance of breaking into the side that will travel to New Zealand next year.

Henson is currently contracted to reigning Magners League champions Ospreys but could leave the Welsh club, who are reportedly fed up with his exploits and are keen to sell.

Reports in the newspapers on Friday indicated Wasps (14/1 Premiership Grand Final winners) had begun talks with Ospreys regarding a move for Henson, with the Wycombe-based club ready to pay £400,000 for the centre.

However, Edwards has come out and poured cold water on any talk of Henson coming to Adams Park, insisting they are not in negotiations to sign the ex-husband of singer Charlotte Church.

Pressed on the matter, Edwards replied: “He plays for Ospreys doesn’t he? So it would be pretty hard to say you’ve signed somebody who plays for someone else. Do you negotiate with someone who is contracted to another club? No. We have never.”

“We are not in a position to sign a player who is contracted to another club, simple as that.”

Henson eyes Wales return

Gavin Henson says he is keen to be part of Wales’ World Cup squad for next year’s tournament as he looks to get his rugby career back on track with the national side and Ospreys (5/1 Magners League outright with Stan James).

The 28-year-old hasn’t played since March 2009 after deciding to take unpaid leave from the reigning Magners League champions in order to get over a series of injuries he had been struggling to overcome.

Henson missed out on heading to France for the 2007 World Cup after failing to recover from an Achilles injury in time and could find himself out in the cold again should his situation not improve.

Wales (9/2 2011 Six Nations outright) coach Warren Gatland has said he would welcome Henson’s return to action and has admitted that should the fly-half get his fitness back it would be hard to refuse him a spot on the plane to New Zealand.

Henson claims that his time away from the sport has made his competitive spirit stronger and says he is determined to find his form before Gatland announces his squad for the competition.

“I’ve never been to a Rugby World Cup which is coming up in 2011 and I’m thinking about training for that,” he said.

“Hopefully I can get back into rugby, do well and get into the World Cup squad. It’s the one thing that is not on my CV.”

Wales begin their World Cup build-up on November 6 when they face Australia in the first of a series of autumn internationals before going on to take on South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand.

Parks fancies Cardiff Blues’ title chances

New signing Dan Parks believes Cardiff Blues (9/2 with Stan James to win the Grand Final) can challenge for the Magners League title.

The Scotland international fly-half, who signed in the off-season from Glasgow Warriors, says he is very impressed with what he has seen of the set-up in Cardiff (5/1 with Stan James to be regular season winners).

Parks should prove to be an excellent acquisition for the Blues, having been top points scorer in each of the seven seasons he played for Glasgow.

He arrives in good form, having won man of the match awards in four of his last five internationals including the 24-16 victory in the first test against Argentina, where he scored all of Scotland’s points.

Parks, who helped the Warriors make the inaugural play-offs last term, told the South Wales Echo: “I think the Blues have a really good chance at challenging for the Magners League title this year. I think part of the problem last season was the Blues didn’t start very well and were always playing catch-up.

“However, they finished last season strongly, so it would be good if we could start this one with the same form.”

Due to international duty in Argentina, Parks only arrived for what he views as some tough pre-season training at the Blues this week.

He said: “My body is feeling it a bit at the minute, as it’s early days in pre-season for me. But I know I’ll get the benefits over the course of the season.

“I wanted the chance of playing somewhere new and obviously the Blues are a great team to join.

“I’m fortunate to come into a team that is full of internationals and future talent. So I’m excited about the new challenge, getting onto the pitch and winning some games.

“The Blues are already a quality team as they showed towards the end of last season when they hit their stride.

“The individuals flourished in the team and to finish with so many wins was very impressive, so I’m excited about being involved.”

Davies excited by Quinnell

Llanelli Scarlets coach Nigel Davies has revealed his delight about the re-signing of flanker Gavin Quinnell ahead of the new Magners League season (Scarlets 33/1 to win Magners).

The 26-year-old back rower returns to the Scarlets having spent four years away from the region, spending two of them in the Premiership with Worcester and the other two in Italy with Viadana.

Quinnell, who can also play in the second row, is the younger brother of Llanelli legend Scott Quinnell and the son of former Lions player Derek Quinnell, and becomes the fourth member of his family to play for the Parc Y Scarlets club.

Coach Nigel Davies is understandably excited about working with such a talent and is looking forward to seeing the impact the player has.

“It’s great to have him back,” Scarlets coach Nigel Davies told the BBC.

“Gavin is an established impact player and will bring something different to our forward play, his size and physicality and attitude to rugby is something that we can use and we know he’s a committed Scarlet.

“He’s a big ball carrier, strong and powerful and will be a very physical presence on the pitch which will be good for us next season.”

Find out how he gets on at his new club with all the latest rugby union betting news.