'I'm alive' - England's Haskell after click bait hoax
England flank James Haskell was forced to assure the rugby world he is still alive on Monday after bizarre rumours surfaced that he had died of a steroid overdose.
Amid reports Haskell had been selling drugs and had subsequently died, the Wasps back row posted a video on YouTube in which he described the fake stories as "click-bait".
"You may have seen there are quite a lot of fake news stories operating on Facebook, that I have died of a steroid overdose, which is not true, that I have died of a drug overdose, which is not true, and that my career is over because I have been trying to sell drugs," he said.
"Another rumour is circulating that I had to quit rugby and left everyone in my family and moved away.
"Just to make it clear, this is absolute rubbish. It is all click-bait. Rest assured, I'm not dead and not disgraced and for those of you who are sceptical, we get drugs-tested all the time.
"I'm not dead and for those of you who wish I was dead, better luck next time."
Haskell is currently recovering from a foot injury that required surgery after England's triumphant tour of Australia in June, but is expected to return for Wasps this month.
The 31-year-old has seen his international career rejuvenated by the arrival of England coach Eddie Jones, establishing himself as first-choice openside flank and reaching 70 caps for his country.