Statistics
| Squad | Ricoh Black Rams |
|---|
| Position | Flanker |
|---|
| Age | 26 |
|---|
| Height | 1.94m (6'4") |
|---|
| Weight | 114kg (17st 13lb) |
|---|
| Caps | 42 |
|---|
Outstanding performances for England Under 21s foreshadowed James Haskell’s route into the England Elite Squad and the 42 caps he has won so far include 23 consecutively before he was an unused bench replacement against Australia at Sydney in June last year.
He won the richly deserved RBS 6 Nations Man of the Match award when England beat Scotland 22-16 at Twickenham in mid March, was his country’s top tackler with 57 in this year’s Championship and scored his fourth Test try against Wales at Twickenham in August.
James, a former London Wasps player, spent the past two seasons with Stade Français before being released by the French Top 14 club in early June this year. He will play for Ricoh Black Rams in Japan after the 2011 RWC and hopes to secure a Super Rugby contract before he returns to Wasps on a three-year contract starting in 2012-13.
Born in Windsor and educated at Wellington College in Berkshire, James excelled during England’s 2008 summer tour of New Zealand. He had made his Test debut in the 27-18 defeat by Wales the previous year and was in the Saxons’ team that subsequently beat New Zealand Maori in the Churchill Cup final.
He appeared ten times for England Under 21s in 2005, five of his matches being in the IRB World Championship in Mendoza and became the first player to figure in every match for that age group team in two successive years.
Was a try-scorer when the side completed the 2006 Grand Slam with a 40-5 win over Ireland, having previously represented England Under 18s, 19s and also England Sevens. He first figured for Wasps at the age of 18 when he singled out Lawrence Dallaglio as his sporting hero for his inspiring leadership qualities.
His swift development included being runner up to fellow London Wasps back row Tom Rees in the 2006-07 Guinness Premiership ‘Young Player of the Season’ awards.
That accolade came at the close of a campaign during which James gained a Heineken Cup winners’ medal in only his second professional season. He had appeared as a 50th minute replacement for Dallaglio in the 25-9 Twickenham triumph over Leicester Tigers.
Other distinctions that season included appearances for England Sevens in Dubai and George and his England Saxons’ debut against Italy A at Exeter in February 2007.
The following week, he scored a try in the 30-5 victory over Ireland A at Ravenhill, Belfast and his path was signposted to full honours and to his two tries against Wales at Twickenham in February 2010 and another in the 59-13 win over Italy at HQ a year later.
International Record
20 points - 4T
2007 W, F 2008 W, It, F, I(R), NZ(1,2), PI(R), A(R), SA, NZ 2009 It, W, I, F(R), S(R), Arg(1,2R), A(R), Arg, NZ 2010 W, It, I, S, F(R), A(1R), Sam 2011 W, It, F, S, I, W. W(R), I World Cup - Arg, G, R, S, F(R)
Last updated: October 10, 2011