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James Haskell: Northampton Saints sign England forward from Wasps

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments163

James Haskell
James Haskell made his England debut against Wales in 2007

England flanker James Haskell has signed for Northampton Saints for next season on a one-year contract.

The 33-year-old is leaving Wasps in the summer and must be playing club rugby in England to be selected for the national side.

Haskell, who toured with the Lions in 2017, has won 77 England caps and hopes to play in next year's Rugby World Cup.

"I want to continue my international career for as long as possible," Haskell told the Saints website.external-link

"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.

Northampton Saints tweet
Northampton tweeted this at 9:31 BST - Haskell DJs and owns a digger

"I'm really excited and humbled to be joining a giant of English rugby. This is a club with a proud history and a set of passionate and loyal supporters who always make their presence felt."

International team-mate Danny Care told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast that he expects Haskell to be an influential figure for Saints.

"He is an 80-cap international, a brilliant player, and to see him struggling to find a club was shocking," said England and Harlequins scum-half Care.

"He has got plenty of gas in the tank still and is going to add a lot to Franklin's Gardens next season."

Haskell joined Wasps in 2002 and spent 12 seasons with the club, either side of spells playing in France, Japan and New Zealand, and said he has no hard feelings after being deemed surplus to requirements at the Ricoh Arena.

James Haskell tweet
Haskell replied with this before the club confirmed his signing

England boss Eddie Jones recalled Haskell for the Six Nations game against France in March after a year away from the international set-up.

Haskell's Wasps team-mate Danny Cipriani is also leaving, the 30-year-old having agreed a move to Gloucester when his contract with the Coventry-based club expires in the summer.

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163 comments

  • Comment posted by deep-heat, at 11:13 14 May 2018

    Seems like a pretty decent match. Saints need to raise standards off the pitch to raise standards on it and for all his media image, JH is a consummate professional and should bring some quality to both areas. Pleased for the bloke. He takes a lot of flak, but has worked his backside off to deliver more for his teams than some - possibly more naturally gifted - teammates.

  • Comment posted by RichSpen, at 11:24 14 May 2018

    I think Saints have got a bargain.

  • Comment posted by Norman Moore, at 11:02 14 May 2018

    Good luck James, you were great for Wasps.

  • Comment posted by D1679665028309, at 10:56 14 May 2018

    Got a lot to prove if he wants to be on the plane to Japan. Can only be a big benefit to saints.

  • Comment posted by Proud Brit, at 11:16 14 May 2018

    Not a saints fan, but glad he's found a home for the rest of his professional career.

  • Comment posted by Wardy2133, at 12:23 14 May 2018

    As a Wasp fan little disappointed to see both JH and DC leaving. Saying that JH will suit life at Saints and do well, just hope it does not come back to bite us.

    Good luck to both!

  • Comment posted by custos morum, at 12:45 14 May 2018

    29# Paapaa.........
    You obviously know a lot about Haskell and Cipriani - did you go to to school with them, related, good mates?? How come you know so much?
    Or is it the case that you actually know sweet FA and are talking drivel?

  • Comment posted by User0886662822, at 15:31 14 May 2018

    Theses RL people who think Rugby Union is played by middle class public school boys need to get out to the West Country,New Zealand and Wales. Why can’t RL just get on with its own game instead of having a go at RU because it is too complicated for them to understand? They didn’t whine when they poached the best RU players from the valleys before RU went professional.

  • Comment posted by mike, at 11:48 14 May 2018

    Brilliant, I'm delighted he has stayed in the premiership. He's a real dog and will be a cracking asset for Saints. I think he'll go to Japan even if its as a back up to someone else.

  • Comment posted by Jengibre, at 15:38 14 May 2018

    @63 Kerry I wonder why are you here and what are you trying to achieve?

    As someone who gave up football because of the values I saw exhibited on and off the pitch, I wonder what you have to say to me. Rugby's values, at the core of the game, are far more compelling to me. They are not elitism, it is one of respect.

  • Comment posted by Nimrod2, at 15:25 14 May 2018

    63 Kerry

    As usual you are spouting rubbish.

    The 'beautiful game' is an oxymoron.

    The FIFA is a case in point.

  • Comment posted by Jon_Lively, at 16:43 14 May 2018

    69 Kerry
    You are quite simply wrong. I have played rugby for various teams around Yorkshire for 20 years & can categorically state that the players are not elitist in any way, shape or form. My teammates have come from a wide variety of race, religious and economic backgrounds & frankly it does not matter to us in the slightest. We are a team and play & socialise together, that is social mobility

  • Comment posted by Hector, at 15:56 14 May 2018

    @63 can you go back to the football chats before I have to ask my butler to set the dogs on you, im to busy trying to manage my over seas tea investments for this nonsense

  • Comment posted by Leicester Jet, at 12:14 14 May 2018

    I'm a Tigers fan but I still think Saints have made a good signing in Haskell. He doesn't disappear when the going gets tough, like so many of these foreign signings in the league

  • Comment posted by Matt77, at 12:29 14 May 2018

    Great signing for the Saints. Haskell isn't everyones cup of tea but he'll add great character to the Northampton dressing room. He is still a very good player too.

    #bantz

  • Comment posted by Bosnia Herzegovina, at 15:14 14 May 2018

    63. Posted by Kerry

    Do you mean Tony Collins, the Historical Consultant to the Rugby Football League?

    That would explain him having an axe to grind with Union.

  • Comment posted by Rsuppards, at 11:54 14 May 2018

    I'm not a Saints fan, but Hask is just the sort of player they need

  • Comment posted by jon, at 11:39 14 May 2018

    Excellent, glad to see him in a spot at an english club for next season. Playing too well to be on the sidelines...

  • Comment posted by Nick, at 14:37 14 May 2018

    @52 - Oh yes, paapaa went to a very good school. In fact it was Approved.

  • Comment posted by grumpyrodders, at 12:42 14 May 2018

    Haskell is past his peak but can still contribute some valuable game time at Northampton. A bit like Peter Crouch at footie!

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