British and Irish Lions

The 23-year-old hopes to return in mid-October following surgery on a long-standing groin injury and wants to be available for Wales' international programme in November.

"It's looking pretty good and hopefully I'll be back in the middle of October," Henson told BBC Wales.

"I'll speed things along after the next few days' training sessions.

"All my symptoms have gone so that's great news. I'm just a little sore from the cut from the operation."

The centre had feared he would miss Wales' defence of the Six Nations Championship as the operation, which he underwent in Germany, could have ruled him out for six months.

Three former British & Irish Lions will line-up against an England XV at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday as the Barbarians warm-up for their showdown with the 2013 tourists in Hong Kong next week.

Radike Samo, one of only two players still playing top level rugby in Australia who placed against the 2001 British & Irish Lions, will return to top flight action with Queensland Reds against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.

British & Irish Lions hookers Dylan Hartley and Tom Youngs will fight out their own private duel in the Aviva Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday and then become team mates for the next six weeks a day later.