Gavin Henson is to open a pub and restaurant following his release by the Dragons.
Builders have been working hard on the Fox and Hounds in St Brides Major for the past month after Henson bought the freehold for the pub which closed last year.
Henson attended a one-day training course on becoming a pub licensee last week before Gavin Henson's professional rugby career in Wales appears over
He hopes to have the beautiful stone pub open by the time the Rugby World Cup starts in late September, and builders have gutted the premises over recent weeks.
The pub is close to where Henson grew up as a child, while his father Alan, a former prop who captained Maesteg, used to be a self-employed roofer in the nearby area.
Henson was required to pass an exam at the end of his licensee course to demonstrate he has the knowledge required to be a pub landlord.
It is unclear whether Henson intends to continue with rugby in any form, with the semi-professional game in the Welsh Premiership one option.
Henson never played in a World Cup despite being a key figure in Wales' Grand Slam winning teams in 2005 and 2008 and being a Lion.
The 33-times capped centre was on course to be in Warren Gatland’s squad for the 2011 showpiece in New Zealand but broke an arm during a warm-up win over England in Cardiff and was ruled out.
Gavin Henson's professional rugby career in Wales appears over
The 37-year-old ’s regional rugby career is now over after the Dragons yesterday confirmed his release with his contract expiring this month.
He only appeared three times for the Gwent region this campaign and on 18 occasions in all since arriving at the Dragons last season with injuries having been a factor.
A chequered career had previously taken in stints at Swansea, Ospreys, Saracens, Toulon, Cardiff Blues, London Welsh, Bath and Bristol.
Henson took a 21-month sabbatical from rugby following the 2009 Six Nations and starred in three reality television series - 71 Degrees North, Strictly Come Dancing and The Bachelor.
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He has two children from his relationship with singer and activist Charlotte Church.
There is one other pub in St Brides Major, which had a population of 769 people in the last government census, the Farmers Arms.
A village resident told WalesOnline: “It will be good to see the Fox and Hounds open again.
“It used to be popular but the problem was it was tied to a brewery. With it having being sold freehold, that is no longer the case, which gives the new landlord more chance of making it a success.”
Pretty St Brides Major is located near the beaches of Ogmore By Sea and Southerndown, the famous sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr, Candleston Castle and is not far from other tourist hotspots Llanwit Major and Cowbridge.
