December 23 down the years
Henson falls foul of the authorities
Gavin Henson was slapped with a ban on this day in 2005
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2005
Ospreys centre Gavin Henson was banned for 10 weeks for a deliberate elbow on Leicester prop Alex Moreno during a Heineken Cup game at the Liberty Stadium. The ban capped a bad six months for the player who earlier in the year had been inspirational in Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam. Henson struggled to break the Test side on the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and struggled with a groin injury. He returned to action in Wales' Six Nations loss to Ireland - being jeered onto the field by the Lansdowne Road crowd.
2008
The International Rugby Board demanded answers from Perpignan after banned hooker Marius Tincu played in the club's Top 14 victory over Castres. Tincu was serving an 18-week ban for gouging after being found guilty of the offence following Perpignan's Heineken Cup loss to the Ospreys.
1905
Dave Gallaher, legendary captain of the Original All Blacks, stood down from the New Zealand side to play Newport having been bitten on the finger a couple of days earlier playing against Glamorgan.
1950
The England selectors were given a headache when the 'Possibles' outplayed the 'Probables' 17-3 in the trial match at Twickenham.
1950
Dickie Lloyd, legendary Ireland fly-half who played before and after World War 1, died at his home in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, aged 59. First capped as a teenager in a 0-0 draw at Twickenham in 1910, he played 19 times for Ireland.
1972
Not for the first time Lancashire and Yorkshire shared a scoreless draw in a County Championship round-robin match in the Northern Division. The result left the counties tied at the top of the group table and they would have to meet again to play-off for a quarter-final place.
1978
A good Saturday crowd sensibly avoiding last-minute Christmas shopping was rewarded with an entertaining match at Old Deer Park where London Welsh, inspired by scrum-half Alun Lewis, beat Leicester 12-6 in cold, crisp conditions.
2001
Enjoying their best season for years London Irish beat Saracens 30-23 in the Premiership at the Madejski Stadium. The Exiles broke up for Christmas with only three defeats from a dozen league games.
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