Rugby star announces live dates

Rugby star James Haskell is turning to stand-up.

The former England international  will make his stage debut next month after his original plan – to become a  mixed martial arts star – was thwarted by spinal surgery.

The 36-year-old said the health worries made him reassess his priorities ‘To be honest, I find podcasting and speaking much more desirable than going into a cage and adding to my laundry list of ailments,’ he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

He has announced  four dates of a one-man comedy show next month and told the radio station: ‘I'm a massive show-off. Everything’s about performing.’

And he hopes the dates – on the back of his new book Ruck Me – will be a gateway to comedy.

‘I secretly want to do stand-up,’ he said. ‘This is a nice little sojourn into that world, a chance to dip your toe in the water.

‘Stand-up should be fun. It’s a natural progression from my book and podcast [The Good, The Bad And The Rugby].

‘I might die on my backside and never be heard from again but it might be fun to risk it all and find out.’

Haskell – who is married to Richard and Judy’s fitness star daughter Chloe  Madeley – will be at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on November 15 followed by the Bath Forum on the 16th; the Leamington Spa Royal Spa Centre on the 19th and Exeter Corn Exchange on the 21st.

Published: 31 Oct 2021