Anyone remotely familiar with James Haskell 's persona would consider the ex- rugby star as energetic, engaging and eminently excitable—each of which can work both for and against in the social media age.
But it wasn't always a foregone conclusion that he would emerge with such a bubbly exterior, both during his playing career and now as he explores his avenues outside rugby. Rather, it took years of reflection and reinforcement to overcome his early struggles against self-doubt.
It was 20 years ago now that Haskell, 37, first started seeing a psychologist as a means of improving performance. In that sense, the Berkshire native was ahead of the curve at a time when, had you asked a changing room of rugby players if they were talking to a mental health specialist, he'd be "the only one putting their hand up."
