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Cardiff - Wales centre Gavin Henson is set to make his long-awaited return to rugby union after accepting an invitation to play for the Barbarians against world champions South Africa at Twickenham in December.
The controversial Ospreys midfielder has not played since March 2009 after suffering an ankle injury in an Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat against Gloucester and then taking unpaid leave.
However, the 28-year-old has continued to make headlines in Britain following the break-up of his relationship with Welsh singer Charlotte Church, the mother of his two young children, and his forthcoming appearance in the BBC television entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.
Henson has also been linked with a move to several English Premiership clubs, but all have denied making an approach.
The talented Henson, capped 31 times by Wales, has made clear his desire to play for his country at next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
But his ability to upset team-mates, never mind opponents, was evident again recently when he was selected to model the new Wales team kit in a marketing campaign, annoying several members of the current national squad.
Barbarians' contracts manager Mike Burton, the former England international, said in a statement issued on Monday that Henson's selection was still subject to the player proving his fitness.
"Obviously our invitation to Gavin will attract a lot of attention," he said.
"He has other commitments outside rugby and he is conscious of the need for match fitness in order to do himself and the club justice," Burton added.
"We will be in regular contact with him and his home club, the Ospreys, in the next few weeks and, all being well, our big game at Twickenham will be the first opportunity to see him back on the representative stage."
Henson will be joined in the Barbarians squad by Ospreys team-mate and Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips while Australia's Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau, who played in the invitational club's win over the world champion Springboks in 2007 and against New Zealand last year, have also been selected for the December 4 fixture.
The remainder of the side is due to be announced in the coming weeks.
South Africa, in common with Tri-Nations champions New Zealand, are set for a Grand Slam tour in November with Tests against Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England before they face the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Italy's South African coach Nick Mallett and Alan Solomons will, as they did against the All Blacks last year, will take charge of the Barbarians side that plays the Springboks.
The Barbarians, who have no ground of their own and whose teams traditionally feature at least one uncapped player, are arguably rugby union's most famous invitational side.
Their most celebrated win came in 1973 when a team largely made up of players from the victorious British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand two years earlier beat the All Blacks 23-11 in Cardiff.
The controversial Ospreys midfielder has not played since March 2009 after suffering an ankle injury in an Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat against Gloucester and then taking unpaid leave.
However, the 28-year-old has continued to make headlines in Britain following the break-up of his relationship with Welsh singer Charlotte Church, the mother of his two young children, and his forthcoming appearance in the BBC television entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.
Henson has also been linked with a move to several English Premiership clubs, but all have denied making an approach.
The talented Henson, capped 31 times by Wales, has made clear his desire to play for his country at next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
But his ability to upset team-mates, never mind opponents, was evident again recently when he was selected to model the new Wales team kit in a marketing campaign, annoying several members of the current national squad.
Barbarians' contracts manager Mike Burton, the former England international, said in a statement issued on Monday that Henson's selection was still subject to the player proving his fitness.
"Obviously our invitation to Gavin will attract a lot of attention," he said.
"He has other commitments outside rugby and he is conscious of the need for match fitness in order to do himself and the club justice," Burton added.
"We will be in regular contact with him and his home club, the Ospreys, in the next few weeks and, all being well, our big game at Twickenham will be the first opportunity to see him back on the representative stage."
Henson will be joined in the Barbarians squad by Ospreys team-mate and Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips while Australia's Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau, who played in the invitational club's win over the world champion Springboks in 2007 and against New Zealand last year, have also been selected for the December 4 fixture.
The remainder of the side is due to be announced in the coming weeks.
South Africa, in common with Tri-Nations champions New Zealand, are set for a Grand Slam tour in November with Tests against Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England before they face the Barbarians at Twickenham.
Italy's South African coach Nick Mallett and Alan Solomons will, as they did against the All Blacks last year, will take charge of the Barbarians side that plays the Springboks.
The Barbarians, who have no ground of their own and whose teams traditionally feature at least one uncapped player, are arguably rugby union's most famous invitational side.
Their most celebrated win came in 1973 when a team largely made up of players from the victorious British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand two years earlier beat the All Blacks 23-11 in Cardiff.
