Gavin Henson starts full training with Toulon

Gavin Henson started full-contact training with Toulon this week but time is running out for the 29-year old to put himself in contention for a place in Wales's World Cup squad. Henson has started only one match, last December with Saracens, since ending an 19-month absence from the game. He had hoped to play some part in Wales's World Cup campaign but a calf strain has kept him out of action for the past two months and delayed his debut for Toulon. "I think Gavin can make the World Cup but he will have to play exceptionally well for us in our last few games," said the Toulon coach, Philippe Saint-André on Monday. "He started sprinting last week and today took a part in full-contact training." Toulon have five league matches left in the regular season but are in contention to make the play-offs. If he comes through training this week, Henson could be on the bench for Friday night's Top-14 match at Castres. "I am not sure when he will play because he needs to know the system and everything, although he communicated with the rest of the players well today" said Saint-André. "He is very professional and he is working hard. He just needs to be free from injury to be on the pitch and, because he has hardly played in the last two years, he needs game time." Henson has never played in a World Cup, omitted in 2003 and deemed unfit four years later. He has made it his overriding ambition to make the squad for New Zealand later this year and Wales need an extra option in midfield but he has been told he will be considered only if he has shown form – one reason he left Saracens, where there was no starting place for him at inside-centre or outside-half. "It has been a nightmare for me because the injury has taken far longer than expected to clear up but I feel really good now," said Henson. "I have finally been able to train with my new team-mates and I am eager to play. I am in the right place mentally, I have settled in well and I hope I can play some part on Friday." Ireland will go into the World Cup warm-ups as the leading European team in the world rankings. Their victory over England last weekend saw them swap places with Martin Johnson's men and climb to fourth. France are sixth, one place ahead of Wales with Scotland ninth. Italy are 12th.