James Haskell
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![]() Argentina vs England at 2011 Rugby World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Birth name | James Andrew Welbon Haskell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 2 April 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Windsor, Berkshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.93m (6 ft 4 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Papplewick School, Ascot Wellington College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Chloe Madeley (m. 2018) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Haskell (born 2 April 1985) is a former rugby union player who played for Wasps RFC and Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership, and internationally for England. In August 2019 he announced he would become a professional mixed martial artist and is currently signed to Bellator MMA, where he is to compete in their Heavyweight division.[2] In November 2019, it was announced that Haskell would be participating in the nineteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[3]
Club career
Haskell was born in Windsor, Berkshire, and played for Maidenhead Rugby Club prior to joining (Wasps RFC), where he was part of the highly successful Colts set up. He was a replacement as Wasps won the 2007 Heineken Cup Final.[4]
It was announced on 17 February 2009 that Haskell would join Top 14 side Stade Francais at the end of the 2008–09 season.[5]
The back-rower announced at the end of the 2010–11 season that he had been released from his contract at Stade Francais, and would instead be rejoining Wasps at the start of the 2012–13 season. During the season after the World Cup, he would play in Japan for the Rams, before seeking a Super Rugby contract for the rest of the season.[6]
In 2011, Haskell agreed to join the Highlanders in Super Rugby, saying he has always wanted to play in new environments and to "improve and become a better player for England".[7] While there, Haskell was competing for the Flanker position with future Scotland international, John Hardie.
In January 2018 it was announced he would leave Wasps at the end of the 2017-2018 Aviva Premiership season.[8]
On 7 May 2019 Haskell announced his retirement from professional rugby via an Instagram post.[9]
International career
England
Haskell represented England at under-17, 18 and under-19 levels as well as playing for England Sevens.[10] He also played for Wales at under-18 level, qualifying thanks to his Welsh mother,[11] and is also qualified to play for Ireland.[12] In the 2007 Six Nations, Haskell was called into the starting line-up for the final game of the tournament for England against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, where he was part of a back row that was for the first time provided by one club - Joe Worsley and Tom Rees were the other players from Wasps.[13] He just missed out on selection for the 2007 Rugby World Cup for England, despite spending the summer in their training camp.[14] He played a prominent role in the England team in the 2008 Six Nations.[15] Haskell appeared in both tests of the 2008 summer tour of New Zealand.[16]
Haskell was selected by Martin Johnson for the 2008/2009 Elite Player Squad on 1 July 2008.[17] He appeared in all three autumn internationals, starting against South Africa.[18] Haskell participated in every game of the 2009 Six Nations, though he lost his starting berth to Tom Croft.[19]
Haskell's performances for Stade and injury to Tom Croft meant he returned to the England squad, and he scored two tries against Wales in the first match of the 2010 Six Nations. He started all subsequent games. During a rest week in the Six Nations, Stade requested his return to Paris to face Toulouse that weekend. The RFU held firm, however, and he remained in England.[20]
Haskell was a member of Stuart Lancaster's 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, however, he was left on the bench in favour of Tom Wood as England crashed out in the group stages.
Haskell was named as the 'man of the series' during England's 3-0 series victory over Australia in June 2016.[21]
British and Irish Lions
On 21 May 2017, Haskell was called up to the British and Irish lions due to an injury to Billy Vunipola.[22]
MMA career
In August 2019, it was announced that Haskell had signed with mixed martial arts promotion Bellator MMA as part of its Heavyweight division. He has also previously done analysis and commentary work for English promotions such as BAMMA and CFF.[2]
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
In November 2019, it was announced that Haskell would be participating in the nineteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
Personal life
Haskell was educated at Papplewick School[23] and Wellington College. Haskell is married to television presenter Chloe Madeley; the couple started dating in 2014.[24]
Haskell was suspended from his secondary school Wellington College after colluding with a friend, Paul Doran-Jones, to film Doran-Jones and his then girlfriend having sex without the latter's permission or knowledge.[25]
References
- ^ "British & Irish Lions - James Haskell". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ a b "James Haskell joins Bellator as heavyweight MMA fighter". 22 August 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Harp, Justin (11 November 2019). "I'm a Celebrity cast confirmed as Caitlyn Jenner, Ian Wright and more join". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
- ^ "Heineken Cup final: Leicester 9–25 Wasps". BBC. 19 May 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Trio quit Wasps to play in France". BBC News. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ "Haskell to rejoin Wasps in 2012". BBC News. 3 July 2011.
- ^ "James Haskell excited by Super 15 challenge after joining Highlanders". Daily Telegraph. 2 November 2011.
- ^ "James Haskell to leave Wasps at end of season". 31 January 2018.
- ^ "James Haskell to retire after glittering career for England and Wasps". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- ^ "England are the winners in the 'Dubai Ashes'". Rugby Football Union. 2 December 2006. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ McCarry, Patrick (14 March 2019). "James Haskell reveals he once went for trials with Wales". Joe.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ Sands, Katie (9 January 2019). "England star James Haskell's revelation about playing for Wales as he admits sadness over Jamie Roberts incident". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Wales 27–18 England". BBC News. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ "Tindall & Hodgson miss World Cup". BBC. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- ^ Gordos, Phil (15 March 2008). "Six Nations 2008". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ Standley, James (14 June 2008). "New Zealand 37–20 England". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ "Tindall left out of England squad". BBC News. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ Standley, James (22 November 2008). "England 6–42 South Africa". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ Standley, James (21 March 2009). "2009 Six Nations". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
- ^ Mairs, Gavin (2 March 2010). "James Haskell to stay with England squad after 'club v country' row". London: BBC News. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ^ "News". www.wasps.co.uk.
- ^ "Billy Vunipola withdraws from Lions squad". British and Irish Lions. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ The Old Papplewickian, Issue No.12, 2012
- ^ Needham, Lucy (8 April 2018). "Chloe Madeley and James Haskell are engaged after romantic Paris proposal". mirror. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ reading, get (13 November 2009). "Sex film boys get England rugby call up". Berkshire Live. Reading, UK.
External links
- Use dmy dates from November 2012
- 1985 births
- England international rugby union players
- English rugby union players
- Expatriate rugby union players in France
- Living people
- Wasps RFC players
- People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
- Rugby union flankers
- Stade Français rugby players
- English expatriate rugby union players
- Expatriate rugby union players in Japan
- Expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand
- English expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
- English expatriate sportspeople in France
- English expatriate sportspeople in Japan
- I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (UK) participants
- People educated at Papplewick School
- Ricoh Black Rams players
- Highlanders (rugby union) players
- Super Rugby players
- Sportspeople from Windsor, Berkshire