EX-WALES skipper Michael Owen has slammed Warren Gatland’s decision to name controversial star Gavin Henson in the national squad to face the Barbarians next month.

Henson, 29, is in coach Gatland’s 26-man set-up for next month’s Millennium Stadium showdown.

Former Newport Gwent Dragons No 8 Owen has attacked Henson’s inclusion as “embarrassing”.

After struggling for two years with injury and deciding to take a break from the game, including a stint on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, Henson has played little rugby.

He played just four games for Aviva Premiership side Saracens this season before signing for French giants Toulon.

Henson has been in fairly decent form for the Top 14 side but Philippe Saint-André’s side crashed out of the play-offs on Saturday after being hammered 27-3 at Montpellier.

Henson was also nearly fired by Toulon, according to many media reports, before being handed a one-week ban after an incident involving teammates at a nightclub.

Owen has questioned the wisdom of bringing Henson, a 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam-winner, back from the international wilderness so soon.

“He’s being picked on what he’s done previously,” Owen said. “It’s a privilege to play for your national team. I think you’ve really got to earn that privilege and I just question whether Gavin has earned it in this instance.

"Warren Gatland and the coaches at Wales obviously rate Gavin very highly as a player."

Owen, who made 98 appearances for the Dragons between 2003 and 2008, he added: “He’s done some fantastic things throughout his career. But for me it sends the wrong message to the players in Wales who are striving, day in day out, week in week out, to try and get better and try and perform to get the opportunity to play for their country.

“I don’t think it will cause too much resentment, for me it sends out the wrong message.

“For people looking in on Welsh rugby I think it’s slightly embarrassing because we’re fawning over a player who, at the moment, doesn’t merit that sort of treatment.”