Aviva Premiership
Haskell wants Wasps to build new legacy
ESPN Staff
August 20, 2014
James Haskell will lead Wasps this season © Getty Images
Enlarge

New Wasps skipper James Haskell wants his team to create a legacy of their own rather than trying to emulate the hugely successful side of the last decade.

Haskell was confirmed as Wasps' new skipper on Monday in an announcement which also saw him sign a new contract. He is the only player left from the side that dominated English rugby, and at times European, alongside the Leicester Tigers in the last decade. But despite those links with the past, Haskell wants his team to look forward and not try and emulate those who went before them.

"There is no one here anymore that is connected with that era except me," Haskell told the Daily Telegraph. "The achievements are there on the honours boards but that is it. I am the last man standing from those days. No more Lawrence [Dallaglio], or Josh [Lewsey]. No one remembers what happened back then. The landscape has changed. It is now all about building our own legacy."

Haskell first joined Wasps in 2002 but left to join Stade Francais in 2009 and then spent time in Japan and the Highlanders. He rejoined the side ahead of the 2012-13 campaign and his form and presence saw Dai Young hand him the captaincy for this season. And Haskell insists he will not curb is natural exuberance for the new role.

"You would soon get found out as a phoney. Every time I go quiet or serious, people worry that there's a problem. So, no, it will be me - passionate about what I do and looking to deliver. Performance is all that counts."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices