Ospreys try to shake off ghost of Henson for key French trip

by Gareth Griffiths, Western Mail

THE Ospreys are ready to welcome back injured Lions trio Shane Williams, James Hook and Alun Wyn Jones for one of their biggest-ever Heineken Cup games. . . but the ghost of Gavin Henson cannot be laid to rest.

As the rest of his teammates prepare for their epic European encounter against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, Henson continues to make the headlines despite not having played a game of rugby in 10 months.

Managing director Mike Cuddy this week confirmed the region will next month be meeting with the former Wales centre who is currently on unpaid leave.

It has been reported that Henson has lost almost three stone in his period of enforced absence, with coach Sean Holley raising questions about whether he will ever return.

Holley said: Gavin has been out for a long time and he would have to ease his way back in.

Rugby changes so quickly these days that it takes time for a player to get back to near where he was after a prolonged absence.

I remember when we signed Leigh Davies in 2005.

He had taken a year out of the game and, while he was able to get his fitness and conditioning back to where they were, he struggled to get to grips with the way rugby had moved on even in the relatively short time he had been out and it did not work for him.

I am not saying that would be the case with Gavin.

He would be able to get his weight back on and his fitness up to scratch, but after that who knows?

Gavin has kept the door open by keeping up his drug testing schedule.

In terms of natural talent, he is as good as anyone in the game today, but he will almost be starting from scratch again.

But Holley insisted yesterday that his sole focus was on tackling French leaders Clermont in their own backyard.

We are just concerned with what we do and focus on the players in the squad we have, said Holley, mindful that final-day pool opponents Leicester Tigers are also very much in the race for qualification from Pool Three.

I just want to focus on the matches against Leicester and Clermont. Statements have been made about Gavin and they will be addressed after these two games.

Gavin wont be here for the next two weeks and I want to focus on the players we have got. Plans are going on behind the scenes to prepare the side for next season so I imagine those talks are a part of that.

I have no idea whether Gavin will play again this season. I have channelled all my energies on the guys who are here.

Any team would welcome quality players in their squad.

Gavin is a quality player who we admire.

If he is back up to full speed mentally and physically any team would welcome him back to their squad.

Holley declared he was more concerned with the form and fitness of the stars at his disposal with Williams, Jones and Hook all being passed fit for the French trip – just under four weeks before Wales Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham.

Wales wing Williams has not played for six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Australia, while Jones and Hook both suffered shoulder knocks in the Boxing Day victory over the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Shane is back to fitness along with James and Alun Wyn, added Holley.

We are nearly up to full speed there and that is really encouraging for all concerned in Wales.

Lions lock Jones confirmed he is ready to return this weekend.

My shoulder is fine, he said. I took a knock against the Scarlets but it has all cleared up and I am available for selection.

The Ospreys must now decide whether to throw the trio in against Clermont or rely on those who have excelled in a five-match unbeaten run that has taken the region to second spot in the Magners League and top of their Heineken Cup group.

Holley said: They are all seasoned internationals who all could slot back in straightaway.

If they are available they will be considered for starts, but we have to make sure we cover all angles. Clearly a lack of match fitness and match form will come into consideration. But some of these players are prodigious talents and will be in consideration.

Shane, for one, is a player you want involved in your squad in the big matches.

He can do something out of nothing and it does not matter how many weeks he has been out, he is still a quality act.

The Ospreys saw last Fridays Magners League game at Ulster fall victim to the freezing weather, but Holley believes his side will be ready for the French onslaught.

It was a mixed blessing the Ulster match was off, he said.

We did not want to risk a few players in key positions and guys have played a lot of rugby.

But some guys could have done with a bit of run, we did not quite get that.

We have managed to fit in three training sessions over the course of the long weekend to try and replicate match situations and we have prepared well.

.

Tulares Cypress School active in fitness contest

Cypress School students are on a mission to get fit. Cypress is participating in the 2010 Governor"s Challenge competition, organized by the Arnold Schwarzenegger"s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The school is tied for first with four other Valley schools in percentage of student participation, 100 percent. Cypress students have logged 22,929 student active days since October. That puts the school in the running for one of 11 $5,000 regional awards and a $1,000 front-runner award. Students must be active at least 30 minutes per day, at least three days per week for a month, outside of school. Students bring slips back about once a week, and their activity hours are put into the computer at , Cypress Principal Val Brown said. Students who complete the challenge receive a certificate. Three new fitness activity centers will be awarded as grand prizes to one elementary, middle and high school in the state. Schools that are qualified for regional or grand prize awards will be asked to submit three essays "describing their school"s commitment to promoting healthy eating on campus," according to the Governor"s Challenge Web site. Jake Steinfeld, famous for the Body by Jake fitness program, is chairman of the statewide program. Steinfeld said in a telephone interview that he and Schwarzenegger share the same passion for keeping healthy. "We know that both academics and fitness go hand and hand," he said. "When kids are active, they feel better about themselves and are healthier . . . resulting in better academics. " Nearly 30 percent of all schoolchildren are considered overweight or obese, which is too big a number, he said. "If you find an exercise or activity you enjoy to do, the right educational information and the right motivation, it clicks in," he said. The program has grown from 100,000 children statewide in 2006 to 339,000 children in 2008, he said. "This year, our goal is 1 million people," Steinfeld said. Parents of children who are at participating schools can also take part, he said. The program is nonprofit and funded through corporate sponsors, he said. "It doesn"t cost the school a penny, and it doesn"t cost the state a penny," Steinfeld said. Brown said she is pleased with the number of exercise activity hours her students have logged. "We don"t have any huge incentives dangling in front of students, so I am pleasantly surprised," Brown said. The Governor"s Challenge runs through May 31. Steinfeld said it"s not too late for schools to sign up and participate. For more information, go to . Visalia"s Golden Oak Elementary School won a Governor"s Challenge regional award in 2008. .

Andrei Arshavin: Arsenal need fitness miracle to succeed - Barclays ...

Arsenal midfielder

thinks the Gunners need a fitness ""miracle"" if they are to maintain their challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Arshavin claims that Arsenal must play with their first-choice XI with more regularity if they are to overcome the three-point gap that Chelsea have over them and hopes that silverware will then be in reach of Arsene Wenger"s side.

"My greatest dream is to win a title with my club," he said. "Naturally, it would be better if we won the Premier League or the Champions League. But to do this we need a miracle - which is to start playing finally with our best line-up! I do not think we have had it once so far this season."

Despite the injuries to the likes of Cesc Fabregas, and

, Arshavin does not believe Wenger will make additions in the January transfer window - certainly not for the time being.

"I have a feeling that Arsenal are not going to buy any new players in the winter transfer window," he added. "Or, if we do, it will be at the very last moment."

Fitness week: Qamp;A with John Rowley

In keeping with this week"s coverage of fitness both physical and fiscal, John Rowley, the Director of Fitness Wellness at , , volunteered his expertise on low-cost strategies for staying in shape. After the jump, his QA with Dollars and Sense: Q. One of the no-cost fitness activities you recommend is walking. But what about what shoes to wear during walking? Any budget-consciousrecommendations that will keep your feet and joints healthy?

I would recommend first exploring clearance sales models from the year. Everyone wants thelatest (and supposedly "greatest") model, and you can save a lot of money by purchasing a model from the previous year.

Also, do not forget to take advantage of the internet. There are so many online bargain places to purchase shoes, and finding the best deal is just a click away.

Editor"s note: One place to find athletic shoes at low prices: . You can also check the ads running at . And to do research on which shoe models get high marks, check out . Q. What are the benefits to walking or running up and down stairs? If you have bad knees or joints, how can you get equivalent benefits?

One of the biggest advantages is that you can walk the stairs anywhere- offices, homes, stores, and no special equipment is needed.

Another great benefit is that you can do this exercise in short spurts. If you only have time to run a report up to a colleague two floors up from you that still counts as exercise even if you do not take the stairs again for another couple of hours.

Stair climbing will exercise your legs, particularly your quadriceps and your butt. Your heart will get a good workout, and its low impact and safe for your knee joints. You can burn about 300 calories for 30 minutes of walking the stairs depending on the intensity of your workout.

However, if you do have knee/joint problems, one option is to take the stairs up, and the elevator down, to avoid pain in knees and joints. If your knees bother you going down stairs you can walk down one flight and walk around the floor, go down another flight and walk around that floor, etc. Giving yourself a little break every few minutes is easier on your knees than running down the stairs in one spurt of activity. The key is to find out what is hurting and how to avoid the activities that hurt.

If stairs are painful, another alternative is walking up a hill, starting with smaller ones and gradually increasing. After stair walking make sure you stretch your quads, hamstrings and calves. Those are the parts of your body that will work the hardest climbing stairs. Q. Let"s say I have $50 to spend on home fitness equipment. What should I buy, and why?

Buy exercise resistance bands. They give you a great workout in a small space, and they can come with you on a trip.

Resistance bands are ideal for home exercise programs and can easily be incorporated into a circuit training format, helping to condition cardiovascular system as well as strengthening specific muscle groups.

Editor"s note: Fitness magazine has . And if you visit Shape magazine"s , you can search their exercise collection for resistance-band moves. Q. What is the smartest fitness-related purchase you"ve ever made? Why was it the smartest? For me personally, I joined and eventually purchased

in Brooklyn. There is something incredible about being in a gym where everyone is serious about fitness.

I think if you can find a gym, a class, a sport, or an activity with people who are achieving what you are striving for, it is a great investment.

Q. What fitness equipment should anyone absolutely avoid buying at any budget or price?

Avoid anything that sounds like a gimmick that promises you magical transformations overnight. Noting replaces a good diet, sound exercise, and consistency.

Q. Also: what is the dumbest fitness-related purchase you"ve ever made? When did it hit you it was dumb? I once purchased a ton of swimming gear: flippers, paddles, goggles, the works. For me personally, I hate swimming: I do not like getting into cold water, it"s inconvenient, and I simply do not enjoy it. Deep down inside, I knew I would never do it, but I purchased everything anyways. Do not go out and purchase fancy equipment if you know you will never use it or if you know a certain type of exercise issomething you particularly hate. Find exercise that you enjoy, in a place you enjoy doing it, on days and times that fit into your lifestyle. If not, you won"t do it. It is important to start small and find a passion, whatever that may be for you. Posted By: ( .