Haskell back at WASPS.......

after a year in Japan. Strange!

England flanker James Haskell has re-signed with London Wasps on a three-year deal but will not link up with the Aviva Premiership club until the 2012-13 season.

The 26-year-old, who is set to feature in England's Rugby World Cup squad, will join the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan following the sport's showpiece event and then hopes to secure a Super Rugby contract before returning to English rugby's top flight the season after next.

More to follow...

link - ESPN Scrum

And a stint in super 15. That's all very random but he will have added to his cv nicely by the time he comes back

He's being an idiot. He hasn't even secured a S15 contract and he expects to waltz into one of their teams and deigns to announce it before time. He could end up with some serious egg on his face.

I'm glad he is going back to Wasps in his prime though. They need some quality and whatever you believe about him at international level, he is a very good club player.

Well, there's more to follow. Let's see the details. Does seem a bit roundabout.

But it does seem playing in France was good for him. Tis good he will be plying his trade back in England

Might the 2012 move to Wasps be for a planned Worsley retirement?

Could well be that a S15 side has already sounded him out, but it's not being announced because it's a while in the future and anything could happen by then (Wasps by comparison are probably trying to create good headlines and show their intent in building the team back up). If that's not the case, then given he will already have done a season in Japan (which finishes in January), possibly followed by the 6N, he probably won't be distraught to not have such a heavily packed year and the S15 is just an aspiration.

Aside from Wasps probably not having room for him this year, Haskell gave these comments earlier in the year, which might explain some of the thinking to why he's going short term to Japan first.

"it's very difficult joining a new club straight after a World Cup. It means that when you finally hook up with your new team-mates in November they've had a full preseason under their belts and seven or eight games"

He's probably doing something with Melbourne then.

Hmmm, the Ricoh Black Rams is the same club Ma'a Nonu is going to on "sabbatical". Big spenders ...

I think it's interesting to see players like Haskell, Delve, Ciprianishow an interest in playing super rugby down south.

Great competition. I would like to see more of it.

maestegmafia wrote:I think it's interesting to see players like Haskell, Delve, Ciprianishow an interest in playing super rugby down south.

Great competition. I would like to see more of it.

I hope more and more NH players choose to spend a season or two down under. All the national Unions have been bleating about wanting their International players playing at home so they can be monitored/controlled effectively, but the NZ idea of allowing sabbaticals is one I think will become more widespread because players almost ALWAYS benefit from playing a different style of Rugby.

For Wales Stephen Jones, Alfie and Alix Popham all came on leaps and bounds as players after playing in France (unfortunately Popham's career has been ended by injury).

No issues with him wanting to play around the world and (hopefully) improve his game but I think it could be a mistake to his future England ambitions. After the WC there is every chance that England could be looking for two new back-rowers as Moody is 33 and Easter is (I think) 32 and they may well call it a day and concentrate on their club careers. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if one of the reasons Bath gave Moody (31/32 at the time and a bit injury prone) a 3 year deal was based on him saying he was only going to play internationals during the first season and the World Cup. Based on this years 6N Haskell would be first choice for either open-side or number 8 but someone else will maybe get that chance now and prove a big success.

If he does go to S15 then I`m not sure it would be a great move for the Rebels as the back row was about their strongest area this year and Haskell`s (probably substantial) wages could be better spend elsewhere.

maestegmafia wrote:I think it's interesting to see players like Haskell, Delve, Ciprianishow an interest in playing super rugby down south.

Great competition. I would like to see more of it.

The problem is the restrictions they have against employing foreign players. The Rebels have special dispensation.

NZ has only just bumped the quota to 2 players per team, but there has to be no equivalent NZ player, in positions like prop & lock only one player per franchise, and in specialist positions like FH & TH Prop only one foreign player for the whole of the country.

In Australia, for the last couple of years they have been allowed 2 foreign players, a marquee player who has represented another country and a developing player who has yet to represent any country.

I'm not entirely sure what the SA restrictions are, I think on paper they are more relaxed, but political issues make them just as strict in reality.

I agree with AlynDavies and maestegmafia, most likely destination for the Super 15 is Melbourne. Haskell and Delve would make a pretty good 2/3 of a back row.

everybody was shocked when he played for a club 3 hours from London,and now.........

B91212 wrote:No issues with him wanting to play around the world and (hopefully) improve his game but I think it could be a mistake to his future England ambitions. After the WC there is every chance that England could be looking for two new back-rowers as Moody is 33 and Easter is (I think) 32 and they may well call it a day and concentrate on their club careers. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if one of the reasons Bath gave Moody (31/32 at the time and a bit injury prone) a 3 year deal was based on him saying he was only going to play internationals during the first season and the World Cup. Based on this years 6N Haskell would be first choice for either open-side or number 8 but someone else will maybe get that chance now and prove a big success.

If he does go to S15 then I`m not sure it would be a great move for the Rebels as the back row was about their strongest area this year and Haskell`s (probably substantial) wages could be better spend elsewhere.

I think Moody and Easter will probably be involved with England in the 2012 6 Nations (which Haskell will miss), and then the 2012 Super 15 season will finish in time for the summer tour, which Haskell could go on as he would be returning to England for the 12/13 season. He won't miss that much International rugby.

Seems a bit unusual but Wasps fans should be happy. Wouldn't mind having him at Munster we are a bit short on backrow options. A 7 would be a better choice but Haskell would have done nicely.

If he gets closer to being first choice for England during the WC, I wouldn't be surprised if he opted to stay for the 6N and try to cement his spot rather than play a season in Super Rugby, particularly if it also meant missing out on the 2012 summer tour of SA.

Haskell won't join the Rebels - he says he wants to play for a side with a chance of winning the S15. According to the ST, who interviewed him, it's likely to be the Reds or the Crusaders.

It's unlikely to be the Crusaders - although Jonathan Poff (yay his name's not blocked like on the Beeb) is leaving, they've still got McCaw, Read, Matt Todd, George Whitelock and (probably) the 4th Whitelock brother (he played in the U20 RWC) to fit into their squad. Although with Fotuali'i leaving they have a spot for an overseas signing, and with SBW probably going they will have some salary cap space too.

It seems a strange mix plus I am also very surprised idiot Howells hasn't linked him with a move to the Ospreys.

He has been linked with them previously.