'Humbled' James Haskell's new club officially confirmed
After rumours broke last night, James Haskell and Northampton Saints have officially tied the knot on Twitter.
The back-row forward has put pen to paper on a one-year deal at Franklin’s Gardens, becoming Saints’ seventh signing ahead of the 2018/19 season.
The club and player broke the news in unusual fashion on Twitter.
Hi Guys, I’m not being funny but i tick some of those boxes and i am currently looking for a job. I have had one hell of a paper round, and a digger comes standard. The good chat is down to interpretation, but I would give it a sold 6/10. Let me know pic.twitter.com/2GXJp2tI0C
— James Haskell (@jameshaskell) May 14, 2018
Currently rested by England, Haskell specified that he would only sign for a Premiership club as he wishes to keep alive the dream of playing for England at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Haskell made over 200 appearances in a 12-year career at Northampton’s Aviva Premiership rivals Wasps, splitting two spells at the club with stints across the globe at Stade Français, Ricoh Black Rams, and the Highlanders – playing on almost every stage world rugby has to offer.
But Haskell has also excelled at international level for over a decade, earning 77 caps to date for England and getting called up to the 2017 British & Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand – playing against a Hurricanes side led by Saints’ new director of rugby Chris Boyd.
“I’m really excited and humbled to be joining a giant of English rugby in Northampton Saints,” said Haskell.
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“Having had the opportunity to play against them for many years now, I know this is a Club with a proud history and a set of passionate and loyal supporters who always make their presence felt.
“It’s no secret that I want to continue my international career for as long as possible; the only way I can do that is by putting my best foot forward in club rugby and helping Saints fight their way back into contention for silverware.
“There’s a real buzz around Franklin’s Gardens at the moment with the arrival of Chris Boyd, a new coaching team being put in place and a number of top-quality players also joining the squad. I can’t wait to get started in Black, Green and Gold.”
Standing at 6ft 4in and 118kgs, Haskell can play in any of the three positions across the back-row and brings a wealth of experience to Saints’ squad having won both the Premiership and Heineken Cup titles at Wasps.
With England, Haskell has been selected for two Rugby World Cups and won three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2016 – the same year he was named ‘Man of the Series’ in the Red Rose’s whitewash of the Wallabies in Australia.
“We’re thrilled to have captured James’ signature for next season, as he’s a player that can bring so much to Saints,” said Northampton’s new director of rugby Boyd.
“Not only is he a superb leader with bags of experience at the very highest level, but James is clearly still extremely hungry to win trophies in club and international rugby.
“His record speaks for itself and I have no doubt that he will be an excellent fit for Northampton, both in the side and within the Club.”
Comments on RugbyPass
RIP big man 🙏
1 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
1 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to comments