England flanker James Haskell forced to confirm he is not dead or a drug dealer

He labelled the reports 'fake news click-bait'

England flanker James Haskell has been forced to deny reports he has died of a steroid overdose after rumours began circulating online.

Haskell, who was one of England’s stand-out performers during the Six Nations, has not played since being part of the side that whitewashed Australia Down Under in June due to a foot injury, but is expected to return for his club side Wasps later this month.

As well as rumours of his death, it had also been claimed Haskell had decided to quit rugby and begin selling drugs, abandoning his family and fleeing the country as a result.

However the 31-year-old released a YouTube video on Sunday, confirming to fans that he had not died, labelling the story “absolute rubbish” and “fake news click-bait”.

“You may have seen there are quite a few fake news stories operating on Facebook, that I have died of a steroid overdose - which is not true - died of a drug overdose, which is not true and my career is over because I have been trying to sell drugs," he said.

“Another is circulating that I had to quit rugby and left everyone in my family and moved away. It is all click-bait.”

Haskell rejuvenated his career under new England boss Eddie Jones and reached 70 international caps earlier this year as he established himself as the Red Rose’s first-choice flanker.