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'Get a life' Haskell tells young players
ESPN Staff
April 18, 2014
James Haskell showing off his body on the cover of <I>Attitude</I>, June 24, 2013
James Haskell - not just a rugby man © ESPN
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James Haskell has told up-and-coming young players to "get a life" and pursue interests outside the sport to extend their careers.

Haskell, who has a wide variety of non-rugby enterprises ranging from his media career to fitness and supplement businesses, said being able to devote time to other things helps keep him focussed on rugby.

"There are a lot of young players who are like robots coming off the conveyor belt," he told the Mirror. "I enjoy doing stuff off the field. I'm not big into nightclubs or going out drinking. My stuff is around working hard.

"Your main focus has to be rugby … but the modern game is extremely attritional and players aren't lasting as long as they should do. You need to do stuff off the field.

"I got absolutely mugged off for going to France and Japan, but I've been around the world. I've done that and have a couple of businesses. If I finish tomorrow, I'll have opportunities to do other stuff. I say to young players, 'Don't be scared to experiment, take opportunities and have fun'."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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