James Gaskell
James Gaskell at Wasps, 2014
Date of birth (1990-05-20) 20 May 1990
Place of birthCrewe, Cheshire
Height2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb)[1]
SchoolSandbach School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Lock[2]
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
<2008
2008–2014
2014–2022
2022–Present
2014		 Sandbach
Sale Sharks
Wasps
Shokki Shuttles
England
97
100
0
1
(55)
(10)
(0)
(0)

James Gaskell (born 20 May 1990) is a rugby union player for Shokki Shuttles in the Top League. He plays as a flanker or lock. After making the debut for Sale in 2008, Gaskell was named the club's Breakthrough Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season. Gaskell was named club captain for the 2010/11 season, making him the youngest captain in the history of the Premiership. He was injured for much of the season, and returned in January 2011. The club's coach changed while Gaskell was injured, and a new captain was appointed.

Career

Gaskell was educated at Sandbach School in Cheshire and first played rugby at Sandbach Rugby Club,[3] and graduated from Sale Shark's rugby academy.[4] In November 2008, the club suffered a crisis with 16 members of their 31-man senior squad either injured or unable to play due to international commitments. As a result, Gaskell was one of five academy players drafted into the side to make their Premiership debut in a match against Worcester Warriors.[5] Two months later, Gaskell was named in England Under 20s Elite Squad for the Under 20s Six Nations.[6] He was named Sale's Academy Player of the Year for the 2008/09 season.[7]

Gaskell scored his first try for the Sharks in a 27–26 win over Cardiff Blues at Edgley Park in the Heineken Cup on 16 October 2009. He was named Sale's Breakthrough Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season.[8] Gaskell's try in a 21–16 win over against Harlequins on 1 January 2010 was voted Sale's try of the season.[4][9] He sprinted over 40 yards (37 m) after receiving a pass from Neil Briggs to score his third try of the season.[4] Gaskell was also voted Sale's "players' player of the season" for 2009/2010.[9]

Mike Brewer replaced former Sale and England player Jason Robinson as the club's head coach in April 2010 after a season in which Sale narrowly avoided relegation from the Premiership.[10] Brewer instigated a number of changes including signing more than ten new players and a releasing similar number.[11] Announced on 31 August, one such change was the appointment of Gaskell as club captain for the 2010/11 season ahead of Sale's international players such as Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto. Brewer explained the decision, saying that "I know it will be a surprise to a lot of people thanks to James' age but, as far as what I'm looking for in a captain which is someone to take the club forward on this journey which we're about to embark on. I see him as a key player in the squad over the next three to five years. The biggest trait I'm looking for in a captain is someone who is prepared to put his body on the line and someone who won't be asking others to do something he's not prepared to do himself. James might be only 20 but I think he's a lot older in terms of his experience and rugby knowledge and I think he'll be a real success for the team and I know the players are right behind him."[8]

At just 20 years and 106 days old, he was the youngest captain in the club's history,[12] and in the history of the Premiership.[13] At the time he had started just ten matches for the club.[2] Early in the season, Gaskell suffered an injury scare in a match against Saracens; it was feared he may have fractured his leg, however he was soon able to return to play for Sale.[14] Less than a month later, in October, Gaskell suffered an injury to his ankle[13] meaning he would be unable to play for 14 to 16 weeks. In Gaskell's absence, Neil Briggs was handed the captaincy for the rest of the season and it was planned that Gaskell would return to the captaincy at the start of the following season.[15]

In January 2011 Gaskell returned from injury, and scored a try in Sale's 28–22 win over Saracens. It was his third try for Sale in twenty matches.[16] During Gaskell's absence Brewer was sacked, Sale having won three of their first nine Premiership matches of the season;[17] Pete Anglesea replaced Brewer as coach and soon after appointed winger Mark Cueto as captain.[18]

On 6 February 2014, Gaskell signed for the Wasps from the 2014–15 season.[19]

On 22 August 2022, it was confirmed that Gaskell had left Wasps to join Top League club, Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.[20]

International career

Gaskell was selected for the England squad to face the Barbarians in the summer of 2014.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Aviva Premiership Rugby – Sale Sharks – James Gaskell profile". web page. Premier Rugby. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 Kitson, Robert (31 August 2010), "James Gaskell ushers in Premiership season as Sale's youngest captain", The Guardian, retrieved 27 November 2010
  3. ↑ History-maker Gaskell tipped for bright future, Manchester Evening News, 2 September 2010, retrieved 27 November 2010
  4. 1 2 3 Leigh, Neil (4 January 2010), Gaskell's touch of stardust, Manchester Evening News, retrieved 27 November 2010
  5. ↑ Roberts' timely return to Sale, Manchester Evening News, 21 November 2010, retrieved 27 November 2010
  6. ↑ Leigh, Neil (21 January 2009), Sale hit back over Peel, Manchester Evening News, retrieved 27 November 2010
  7. ↑ Leigh, Neil (1 May 2009), Schofield named Sale skipper, Manchester Evening News, retrieved 27 November 2010
  8. 1 2 Sharks name Gaskell captain, ESPNscrum, 31 August 2010, retrieved 27 November 2010
  9. 1 2 Awards Dinner – The Hall of Fame, Sale Sharks, retrieved 23 December 2010
  10. ↑ Sharks call in Brewer as Robinson leaves, ESPNscrum, 28 April 2010, retrieved 27 November 2010
  11. ↑ Sharks target top-six finish, ESPNscrum, 19 August 2010, retrieved 27 November 2010
  12. ↑ Sale Sharks name James Gaskell as youngest ever captain, BBC Sport, 31 August 2010, retrieved 3 September 2010
  13. 1 2 Sale Sharks captain James Gaskell faces injury lay-off, BBC Sport, 7 October 2010, retrieved 11 July 2010
  14. ↑ Sale Sharks allay James Gaskell injury concern, BBC Sport, 14 September 2010, retrieved 11 October 2010
  15. ↑ Neil Briggs handed Sale Sharks captaincy for the season, BBC Sport, 21 October 2010, retrieved 25 October 2010
  16. ↑ Sale 28–22 Saracens, BBC Sport, 2 January 2011, retrieved 1 January 2011
  17. ↑ Sale Sharks sack head coach Mike Brewer, BBC Sport, 23 December 2010, retrieved 23 December 2010
  18. ↑ Leigh, Neil (28 December 2010), Anglesea looks to Sale old boys, Manchester Evening News, retrieved 2 January 2011
  19. ↑ "Sale Sharks flanker James Gaskell signs for the Wasps". BBC Sport. 6 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "James Gaskell's new club confirmed following summer exit from Wasps". 22 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "Mike Brown: Harlequins full-back one of 21 added by England". BBC Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
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