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Gavin Henson has spoken out about his bar fracas with Bath team-mate Carl Fearns – revealing the bust-up came after he had at least 20 pints.

The 33-cap Wales international said he now wanted to draw a line under the incident in the city which happened on what was supposed to be a team bonding night out.

Henson, 31, had been with the Premiership club for just a month when he was knocked to the ground by Fearns after verbal sparring between the pair.

Both were fined and given warnings by Bath after the incident.

Henson said: “It wasn't a great start to my Bath career but hopefully I can put that behind me.

“There was a lot of drink involved, that's my excuse. Bad things seem to happen when I go out so maybe I shouldn't go out.

“I went down quite easy by the looks of things but, you know, there was a lot of drink involved so that’s my excuse. There was about 20, 25 pints so I think anyone would have gone down. But I don’t know maybe we will have a charity boxing match at the end of the year so I can get my respect back."

Video: Watch the bar brawl

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Henson said the incident was “embarrassing” and “not a good thing” for the club but says he thinks the squad has since become closer.

He said he now wants to prove why he was signed out on the field.

“If I can get out on the field and start performing then hopefully it will be forgotten, and people will accept me and respect me as a player,” he told BBC Points West

The altercation with Fearns was the latest in a string of incidents throughout Henson’s career.

He left the Cardiff Blues in 2012 after allegedly throwing ice cubes on a flight back from Glasgow before linking up again with former Ospreys boss Lyn Jones at London Welsh last season.

But he could only manage seven Premiership appearances after further ankle problems.

Bath is his fifth club in three years and Henson admits he was not expecting to be approached by a top-flight outfit.

Gallery: The troubled life and times of Gavin Henson

“I was surprised. I'm getting on a little bit and the last three or four years have been mixed in my rugby career - with injuries and form,” he said.

"I was just so happy to get this opportunity and I want to repay the coaches and gain the respect of my team-mates."

Bath have signed Henson to cover fly-half, centre and full-back and the Welshman, speaking to BBC Points West,

says he is ready for the challenge.

"I'm really lucky to be here and to have this opportunity. I'm enjoying every second of it," he said.

"My body is in great condition and if I can stay injury free then I'm confident my game will be up there and I can be in the first team."