'I'm alive and well' says England's James Haskell after false reports of death

England flanker James Haskell. Photo / Brett Phibbs

England flanker James Haskell has posted a video on YouTube confirming he is in fact alive after fake stories appeared on the internet saying he had died.

The former England skipper has reassured fans and the rugby public and he is living and breathing and hasn't died of a drug overdose, as reported in fake Facebook stories he claims.

He has also denied other false stories that he has retired saying all the stories are '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, who played a major part in England's 3-0 whitewash over Australia in June, is spending some time on the sidelines following surgery on an injured foot.