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 Argentina vs England at2011 Rugby World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | James Andrew Welbon Haskell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | (1985-04-02)2 April 1985 (age 39) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Windsor, Berkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Papplewick School,Ascot Wellington College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Andrew Welbon Haskell (born 2 April 1985) is an English formerrugby union player who played chiefly as aflanker forWasps RFC andNorthampton Saints in theAviva Premiership, and internationally forEngland.
In August 2019 he announced he would become a professional mixed martial artist and is currently signed toBellator MMA, where he is to compete in theirHeavyweight division.[3] In November 2019, it was announced that Haskell would be participating in thenineteenth series ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[4]
James Andrew Welbon Haskell was born on 2 April 1985 inWindsor,Berkshire.[1]
He was educated atPapplewick School inAscot, Berkshire[5] andWellington College inCrowthorne, also in Berkshire.
Haskell 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 the2007 Heineken Cup Final.[6]The following season he started as Wasps won the2007–08 Premiership Final.[7] It was announced on 17 February 2009 that Haskell would join Top 14 side Stade Francais at the end of the2008–09 season.[8]
Haskell played as a loose forward. He announced at the end of the 2010–11 season that he had been released from his contract atStade Francais, and would instead be rejoiningWasps 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.[9]
In 2011, Haskell agreed to join theHighlanders inSuper Rugby, saying he has always wanted to play in new environments and to "improve and become a better player for England".[10] 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 2017–18 Aviva Premiership season.[11]
On 7 May 2019 Haskell announced his retirement from professional rugby via an Instagram post.[12]
Haskell represented England at under-17, 18 and under-19 levels as well as playing forEngland Sevens.[13] He also played for Wales at under-18 level, qualifying thanks to his Welsh mother,[14] and is also qualified to play for Ireland.[15] In the2007 Six Nations, Haskell was called into the starting line-up for the final game of the tournament forEngland againstWales at theMillennium Stadium in Cardiff, where he was part of a back row that was for the first time provided by one club -Joe Worsley andTom Rees were the other players from Wasps.[16] He just missed out on selection for the2007 Rugby World Cup for England, despite spending the summer in their training camp.[17] He played a prominent role in the England team in the2008 Six Nations.[18] Haskell appeared in both tests of the 2008 summer tour of New Zealand.[19]
Haskell was selected byMartin Johnson for the 2008/2009 Elite Player Squad on 1 July 2008.[20] He appeared in all threeautumn internationals, starting againstSouth Africa.[21] Haskell participated in every game of the2009 Six Nations, though he lost his starting berth toTom Croft.[22]
Haskell's performances for Stade and injury toTom Croft meant he returned to the England squad, and he scored two tries against Wales in the first match of the2010 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.[23]
Haskell was a member ofStuart Lancaster's 31-man squad for the2015 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.[24]
On 21 May 2017, Haskell was called up to theBritish & Irish Lions due to an injury toBilly Vunipola.[25]
In August 2019, Haskell signed to mixed martial arts promotionBellator MMA as part of itsHeavyweight division. Haskell had previously done analysis and commentary work for English promotions such as BAMMA and CFF.[3]
In February 2020, it was announced that Haskell would make his professional mixed martial arts debut on 16 May 2020 at Wembley'sSSE Arena.[26] The event was ultimately postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.[27]
After having numerous injuries still stemming from his rugby career and eventually having spinal surgery in September 2021, Haskell decided to forgo his MMA career.[28]
Haskell was married to television presenterChloe Madeley; the couple started dating in 2014.[29] Haskell announced onGood Morning Britain in February 2022 that he and his wife Chloe were expecting a baby girl. In October 2023 they announced they were separating.
Haskell was suspended from Wellington College for producing a non-consensual film showing his friendPaul Doran-Jones having sex with his then girlfriend in school accommodation using a hidden camera. They then showed classmates the film. Doran-Jones was expelled and Haskell suspended for the incident. Haskell later made light of the incident in a YouTube podcast in 2019 joking, "All I am going to say is this. My idea, Paul was execution" and "I was nothing to do with it apart from, obviously, it was my idea".[30][31][32]
In 2011, Haskell was accused of sexually harassing a hotel worker alongside fellow England playersDylan Hartley andChris Ashton.[33]
James is also a DJ playing house music and producing his own music. He has built up a reputation having played around the world in places such as London, Dubai, Ibiza and Loughborough.[34][35] He has a series for the renowned house labelDefected Records called Backrow Beats.[36]
In November 2019, it was announced that Haskell would be participating in the nineteenth series ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'. He ultimately became the fourth person to be voted off.[37]
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