James Gaskell facts for kids
James Gaskell at Wasps, 2014
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| Date of birth | 20 May 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Crewe, Cheshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (256 lb; 18 st 4 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Sandbach School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Gaskell (born 20 May 1990) is a professional rugby union player. He plays for the Shokki Shuttles team in Japan's Top League. James usually plays as a flanker or a lock.
He started his career with Sale Sharks in 2008. James was named the club's Breakthrough Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season. He even became the youngest captain in the history of the Premiership in 2010.
Contents
Early Life and Rugby Start
James Gaskell grew up in Crewe, Cheshire. He went to Sandbach School. James first started playing rugby at the Sandbach Rugby Club. He then joined the Sale Sharks' rugby academy. This is where young players learn and train to become professionals.
First Steps in Professional Rugby
In November 2008, Sale Sharks had many players injured. This meant James and four other young academy players got their chance. They made their first professional appearance in a Premiership match. This was against Worcester Warriors.
Just two months later, James was chosen for the England Under 20s Elite Squad. This team plays in the Under 20s Six Nations tournament. For his great start, he was named Sale's Academy Player of the Year for the 2008/09 season.
Career Highlights with Sale Sharks
James scored his first try for Sale Sharks on 16 October 2009. This was in a game against Cardiff Blues. Sale won that match 27–26 in the Heineken Cup.
Awards and Recognition
The 2009/10 season was a big one for James. He was named Sale's Breakthrough Player of the Year. He also won the Player's Player of the Year award. This means his teammates voted for him as their best player.
One of his tries was even voted Sale's try of the season. This happened on 1 January 2010, in a game against Harlequins. James ran over 40 yards (37 m) to score.
Youngest Captain in Premiership History
In April 2010, a new coach, Mike Brewer, joined Sale Sharks. He made many changes to the team. On 31 August, James Gaskell was named the club captain for the 2010/11 season. This was a big surprise because he was only 20 years old.
At 20 years and 106 days old, James became the youngest captain ever in the Premiership. The coach believed James was a strong leader. He said James was ready to put his body on the line for the team.
Overcoming Injuries
Early in his captaincy, James had an injury scare. It was thought he might have fractured his leg. Luckily, he was able to return to play soon. However, in October, he injured his ankle. This meant he could not play for 14 to 16 weeks. During his recovery, another player, Neil Briggs, took over as captain.
In January 2011, James returned from his injury. He scored a try in Sale's win against Saracens. This was his third try for Sale in 20 matches.
Moving to Wasps and Japan
On 6 February 2014, James Gaskell signed a contract to play for the Wasps team. He joined them for the 2014–15 season. He played for Wasps for many years.
Later, on 22 August 2022, it was announced that James had left Wasps. He moved to Japan to join the Shokki Shuttles club. This team plays in Japan's Top League.
International Rugby
James Gaskell was chosen to play for the England squad in 2014. He played in a match against the Barbarians team that summer.
