James Haskell rumours explode after star follows Premiership club's Twitter account

The never-ending speculation over James Haskell’s next club has ramped up after the star liked another Premiership club’s Twitter account.

Haskell is leaving Wasps at the end of the season, but as yet, a new club has yet to be be announced. The backrow has been linked with Bristol, Worcester, Northampton Saints, Gloucester and even Glasgow in the Pro14.

However, a social media follow that was spotted by ‘Friends of the Stoop’ social media account suggests the England flanker could be set to sign for Harlequins.

It may seem like a tenuous link, if it weren’t for the fact that Haskell only follows one other club – Wasps.

If the move to Harlequins was to go ahead, it would see him reunited with England prop Joe Marler; the pair famously wrestled each other after an incident with a water bottle earlier in the season.

In April Haskell confirmed to RugbyPass that a deal has yet to be done to ensure he is available for England selection as he bids to keep alive his hopes of being part of Eddie Jones’s World Cup squad in Japan next year.

“Am I upset? No, that is just the nature of professional sport,” Haskell told Chris Jones of RugbyPass. “I am disappointed that I can be starting for England one week and playing well and still be sorting things out. If I was prepared to give up on England and go abroad then this would have been done and dusted a while ago. The fact is, I want to give it a shot with England unless told otherwise.”

Haskell is aiming to end his Wasps career on a high.

“A lot of it comes down to composure and we have a lot of experience in the team and a real desire to attack all the time. Sometimes that mindset means you are always looking to try and get another score but if we are a man down or haven’t scored for some time then let’s have the composure to go for the simple play.”

Haskell’s options have narrowed somewhat, with Gloucester ruling themselves out of the equation last month.

Head coach Johan Ackermann told the Daily Mail “We’re fine at loose forward department so we won’t be taking on James”.

Haskell has already said he won’t be joining Bristol, despite the newly promoted club spending heavily to prepare for their return to top flight, while London Irish’s recent relegation has taken them out of the equation.

The big backrow courted controversy last weekend when he branded rugby ‘pathetic’ after he was penalised for a high tackle against Northampton Saints last week.

“I don’t know what’s happened to rugby? It sounds like I’m fading out at the right time, it’s becoming a bit of a pathetic sport at the moment.”

Northampton Saints could be another option, with a high number of players leaving Franklin’s Gardens, as Chris Boyd reshapes the squad for next season.

“My priority is going to a place that I’ll contribute to, will improve as a player and be competitive, and obviously keep me in the mix for England. I’ve got to make a big decision,” Haskell told Sky Sports in January.

“I’ve got to talk to my agent, sit down and look at the options. “I’m very sad to be leaving Wasps and I just want to keep being involved here [with England]. I want to play at a club that is competitive and is going to win silverware.”

Haskell has said he will stay in the Premiership even if it means a pay cut as a result.

In an interview with the Guardian, Haskell spoke of the chance to appear in the 2019 Rugby World Cup: “It would essentially be a dream come true.”

“It’s a massive challenge but there would be a big pot of gold at the end of that rainbow. My priority is to stay in the Premiership. I’m fully aware if I go outside of that, then it’s game over. They are not going to make a dispensation for me, sadly.”