Gavin Henson says rugby league is both better to watch and play than rugby union and regrets not taking up the 13-man game earlier in his career.

Henson, 39, will make his league debut in the Challenge Cup on Sunday for West Wales Raiders against Widnes Vikings.

The former Wales fly-half signed a 12-month contract with the part-timers and hopes to help league gain a foothold in south Wales' union heartland.

"Union has lost its way a bit," Henson told BBC 5 Live's Rugby League podcast.

"If rugby league is clever now it could steal a march on rugby union because at the moment I think it's the better game to watch and to play in."

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West Wales Raiders are one of three third-tier sides to be competing in this year's competition, alongside Barrow Raiders and Keighley Cougars.

They could name a couple of well-known players in their squad for the tie against seven-time winners Widnes, with former Wales rugby union fly-half Gavin Henson and ex-England rugby league international Rangi Chase on their books.

The second tie sees two West Yorkshire and Championship rivals go head to head.

Featherstone, who have won the competition three times, take on Bradford, with five Challenge Cup successes to their name.

The Challenge Cup is a knockout rugby league cup competition held annually since 1896, with the exception of 1915–1919 and 1939–1940. It involves amateur, semi-professional and professional clubs.

The ongoing implications of the Coronavirus pandemic have forced changes to the structure of the 2021 Challenge Cup because amateur clubs were not able to enter the tournament for the early rounds.

Instead, the 13 English clubs from the Championship - including Bradford, Featherstone and Widnes - were joined by West Wales and two other clubs from League One.

The 12 Super League clubs will join the competition at the third-round stage in April, which will be followed by quarter-finals in May, the semi-finals on 5 June, and the final at Wembley on Saturday, 17 July.

The current holders of the Challenge Cup are Leeds Rhinos, who edged Salford Red Devils 17-16 thanks to a late Luke Gale drop-goal to win the competition for the fourteenth time.

Wigan Warriors are the most successful club in the history of the competition, winning the cup a record 19 times.

BBC iPlayer

The BBC will once again bring you live action from the 2021 Challenge Cup, broadcasting two third-round fixtures, two quarter-finals, the semi-final and final.

You can catch live coverage of the first-round ties - Swinton Lions v Oldham and Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls - on the Red Button, BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport website and app - and if you miss any of the action, both games will be available for catch-up on the iPlayer.

Sunday, 28 March

12:20 -14:15 - Swinton Lions v Oldham - BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

14:20 -16:15 - London Broncos v York City Knights - BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

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