Not for the first time, confusion surrounds the career of Gavin Henson after Toulon on Tuesday denied reports that they had sacked the 29-year-old centre, instead saying that no decision would be announced for at least another 48 hours.

It had been assumed that Henson's time in Toulon was up when the club owner, Mourad Boudjellal, was reported last Friday as saying: "He has been difficult to manage." Indeed several French rugby sites confirmed the departure on Tuesday lunchtime before the club said it was remaining silent, other than to say that Boudjellal was even denying that he had spoken to journalists on Friday.

"We are not saying anything or giving an guidance," said Tom Whitford, the club's manager.

Henson, the Wales international who had been looking for a two-year contract with Toulon, was suspended and made the subject of a club inquiry after it was alleged that he had fought with an Australian team-mate, Matt Henjak, and bad-mouthed both Jonny Wilkinson and the club captain Joe van Niekerk, during celebrations of the win over Toulouse a fortnight ago.