James Gaskell
Encyclopedia
James Gaskell is a rugby union
player for Sale Sharks
in the Aviva Premiership. 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.
in Cheshire
, and graduated from Sale Shark's rugby academy. 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. Two months later, Gaskell was named in England Under 20s Elite Squad for the Under 20s Six Nations. He was named Sale's Academy Player of the Year for the 2008/09 season.
Gaskell scored his first try for the Sharks in a 27–26 win over Cardiff Blues at Edgley Park in the Heineken Cup on 16/10/09. He was named Sale's Breakthrough Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season. Gaskell's try in a 21–16 win over against Harlequins
on 1 January 2010 was voted Sale's try of the season. He sprinted over 40 yards (36.6 m) after receiving a pass from Neil Briggs
to score his third try of the season. Gaskell was also voted Sale's "players' player of the season" for 2009/2010.
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. Brewer instigated a number of changes including signing more than ten new players and a releasing similar number. 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."
At just 20 years and 106 days old, he was the youngest captain in the club's history, and in the history of the Premiership. At the time he had started just ten matches for the club. 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. Less than a month later, in October, Gaskell suffered an injury to his ankle 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.
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. During Gaskell's absence Brewer was sacked, Sale having won three of their first nine Premiership matches of the season; Pete Anglesea
replaced Brewer as coach and soon after appointed winger Mark Cueto
as captain.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player for Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
in the Aviva Premiership. He plays as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
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.
Early career
Gaskell was educated at Sandbach SchoolSandbach School
Founded in 1677, Sandbach School has been located on Crewe Road in Sandbach, Cheshire for almost 150 years.It is an all-boys school offering admission from the age of 11. In years 10 and 11 a range of GCSE's and Vocational subjects are offered. The school has its own Sixth Form and so offers...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, and graduated from Sale Shark's rugby academy. 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. Two months later, Gaskell was named in England Under 20s Elite Squad for the Under 20s Six Nations. He was named Sale's Academy Player of the Year for the 2008/09 season.
Gaskell scored his first try for the Sharks in a 27–26 win over Cardiff Blues at Edgley Park in the Heineken Cup on 16/10/09. He was named Sale's Breakthrough Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year for the 2009/10 season. Gaskell's try in a 21–16 win over against Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
on 1 January 2010 was voted Sale's try of the season. He sprinted over 40 yards (36.6 m) after receiving a pass from Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership.Briggs plays as a Hooker, but he can also play as a Flanker as he has done on numerous occasions for the Sharks....
to score his third try of the season. Gaskell was also voted Sale's "players' player of the season" for 2009/2010.
Mike Brewer replaced former Sale and England player Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson
Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for...
as the club's head coach in April 2010 after a season in which Sale narrowly avoided relegation from the Premiership. Brewer instigated a number of changes including signing more than ten new players and a releasing similar number. 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
Charlie Hodgson
Charles Christopher Hodgson is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half for Saracens and England. He is also the leading Premiership points scorer of all time.-Early years:...
and Mark Cueto
Mark Cueto
Mark John "Frank" Cueto is an English international rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England.-Biography:...
. 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."
At just 20 years and 106 days old, he was the youngest captain in the club's history, and in the history of the Premiership. At the time he had started just ten matches for the club. Early in the season, Gaskell suffered an injury scare in a match against Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
; it was feared he may have fractured his leg, however he was soon able to return to play for Sale. Less than a month later, in October, Gaskell suffered an injury to his ankle meaning he would be unable to play for 14 to 16 weeks. In Gaskell's absence, Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs
Neil Briggs is a rugby union player for Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership.Briggs plays as a Hooker, but he can also play as a Flanker as he has done on numerous occasions for the Sharks....
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.
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. During Gaskell's absence Brewer was sacked, Sale having won three of their first nine Premiership matches of the season; Pete Anglesea
Pete Anglesea
Peter Anglesea was a rugby union footballer who played back row and second for the Sale Sharks. Regarded as a genuine Sale legend when forced to retire through injury in 2006, he first took a role within the community team at Sale and is now part of the coaching set up...
replaced Brewer as coach and soon after appointed winger Mark Cueto
Mark Cueto
Mark John "Frank" Cueto is an English international rugby union player. He plays on the wing for Sale Sharks and England.-Biography:...
as captain.