Haskell exit leaves him in the lurch

JAMES HASKELL’S England career has been plunged into limbo after Wasps confirmed the forward would leave the Aviva Premiership club this summer. Haskell wants to extend his 75-cap Test career to the 2019 World Cup, but must play for an English club to keep that dream with Eddie Jones’ side alive. Wasps have signed Brad Shields from the Hurricanes for next term and the English-qualified Kiwi flanker wants to force his way into Jones’ England squad. Haskell came through the Wasps academy to make his senior debut in 2002, enjoying stints in France, Japan and New Zealand before heading back to his first club in 2013. ‘Hask goes back a long way with Wasps,’ said Wasps rugby director Dai Young. ‘Since starting in the academy as a teenager, he has played around 200 games including a spell as club captain, which is a great achievement. ‘I’ve no doubt he will remain fully committed until the end of the current campaign.’ ÷HADLEIGH PARKES’ parents are making a 12,000-mile dash from New Zealand to watch his Six Nations bow. Mother Janet and father Bill were waiting by the phone for team news and will now travel to see him start for Wales against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday. ‘They were waiting until the team was named, had their bags packed and were ready to go,’ said the New Zealand-born back. ‘They will probably arrive Friday morning. We have been talking on Skype and Facetime quite a bit. They will be very excited and it is awesome.’ Parkes will line up with nine of his Scarlets team-mates in Cardiff on Saturday. ÷FORMER Wales wing Tom James is being treated for depression, his club Cardiff Blues have announced. James has not played since December 31 but is making ‘good progress’ in his battle with the illness. ‘Cardiff Blues can confirm that Tom James is currently being treated for depression,’ a statement released by the Welsh side read. ‘He has been closely supported by the Cardiff Blues medical team and is making good progress.’