HASKELL: I’M ALL TUNED UP
JAMES HASKELL spent the summer laying down some grooves – now he wants to lay down a marker ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The flanker – rested for the summer tour of South Africa – completed a 12-week, on-line course in music production, then DJ’d in front of 4,000 farmers.
Haskell does not expect a hit single, but admitted some turntable action – at the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs Convention in Blackpool, in May – gave him more jitters than running out at Twickenham. The 33-year-old said: “I am as about as musically talented as a house brick. I made a track, but I don’t think it will be No.1 any time soon.
“I DJ’d for 4,000 young farmers, headlining that – it was incredible and probably the closest thing to playing a game.
“You walk out at Twickenham to 80,000 and don’t notice the crowd. When I walked out on stage there, I underestimated it – there were 4,000 people and me. Their night was defined by whether I played good or bad music. When they reacted well, it was the best feeling in the world.”
Haskell moved from Wasps to Northampton when he could have taken a move abroad.
But he has one last crack at a World Cup and any move overseas would have seen him out of the England equation because of RFU rules.
A chat with boss Eddie Jones (above) influenced his shot at World Cup selection.
Haskell added: “I talked to him and he was very clear that you have to perform. If you are at your best, then you have got a role to play.”