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James Haskell has revealed the poverty-line salary he was paid playing in New Zealand

James Haskell of the Highlanders. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images)

Recently retired England international James Haskell has opened up about all things rugby over his career with The Times, including what drove him to move to New Zealand.

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Haskell revealed the paltry sum he received to play Super Rugby, saying that it ‘cost me more to play for them’.

“I went to the Highlanders for NZ$20,000 a year. It cost me more to play for them but I went there for the love of the game,” he told The Times.

“I have been all around the world and enjoyed every day of it. You get one chance at life and I wanted to maximise it.”

Had that been the only income Haskell received whilst playing in New Zealand, it would put him below the country’s poverty line. Unicef determined the poverty line for New Zealand at $28,000 or less in household income in 2016.

Haskell played 12 times for the Highlanders over 2012-13 before joining Wasps where he made over 100 appearances before moving to Northampton Saints after the 2017-18 season.

He made 77 caps for England from 2007-19 and was a part of England’s 2011 and 2015 World Cups, of which both didn’t turn out to be satisfying.

“Both World Cups I was a part of turned out to be shambolic and disappointing. I would have liked to have had Eddie Jones coaching me through a World Cup. He would have made it something very different.

“My best games for England were under Eddie. He got the best out of me.

Haskell believes that this England squad has what it takes to win the World Cup but there will always be a part of him that wishes he was a part of it.

“I met Eddie and said I was going to retire. I wanted to thank him and I offered to help the squad if I can. I am more sad because I genuinely believe they can win the World Cup. If they do, 99 percent of me will be very happy. The other one percent will be, like, ‘f…’.”

He believes that for anyone to catch the back-to-back World Champions, a paradigm shift towards skill development is required from other nations instead of the obsession towards size. His only criticism of the game now is the lack of personalities in the game with everything so ‘boring’.

“For the game to evolve and to get to the level of New Zealand, people have to want to pick up a ball first and not weight.”

“Skills are fundamental. As are personalities. That is one criticism I would have of the game now: everything is so sanitised. You can’t say this, do that, offend that person, you must reshoot that photo because it had the wrong mobile phone in, or not ask that question. It is just all boring.

Gregor Townsend names his Scotland World Cup squad:

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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