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James Haskell confirms he is set for an incredible sports career change


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After falling out of favour with England over the course of the last couple of seasons, James Haskell announced his retirement from professional rugby back in May at the age of 34.

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The back row won 77 caps for his country as well as touring New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2017. Unfortunately for Haskell, injuries began to dog him later in his career, particularly in his one-year stint at Northampton Saints, which is when he ultimately decided to call time on his career.

“This next chapter was supposed to go a very different way, however that is the nature of professional sport. I have never spent so much time injured in my entire career, but I’m doing everything I can to help the squad here until my contract ends.

“Retiring is obviously a really difficult decision for me to make; professional rugby has been the centre of my life for such a long time now and while it’s weird to imagine living without it, I look to the future with huge excitement.

“I look back at my career and have been very lucky to have done most things there are to do in rugby. Sadly, I will never know what it’s like to win a World Cup or represent the Barbarians.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dmUjdob0i/

Haskell’s career in professional sport is not over, however, as the former Wasps man has agreed to join Bellator, an American MMA promotion, where he will compete in the heavyweight division.

Haskell has always been active outside of rugby, whether that was through business ventures or media appearances, and now he will be able to try his hand at something completely different.

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The former rugby star has trained at London Shootfighters previously, as well as working as an MMA pundit for BT Sport. Bellator have announced that there will be a press conference in London to introduce Haskell as part of the promotion’s stable of fighters.

Haskell previously represented Wasps, Stade Francais, Ricoh Black Rams and the Highlanders, enjoying a rugby career that spanned four countries and three continents before hanging up his boots with Northampton.

WATCH: Jonny May and George Ford preview England’s game with Ireland

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Phantom 1 hour ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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