James Haskell has announced that he will join former club Wasps (20/1 to win Grand Final) on a three-year deal at the beginning of the 2012/13 season.

Haskell is likely to be a key member of England’s World Cup (10/1 outright) squad for the upcoming tournament in New Zealand.

He will join the Japanese side Black Rams after the tournament, before playing a season of Super Rugby with an as-yet-unconfirmed Southern Hemisphere side.

This summer has seen a huge turnaround at the Adams Park club with no fewer than ten new players added to the playing staff since the end of last season, as well as former British Lions prop Dai Young joining the club as the new Director of Rugby.

Haskell came through the ranks of the club and was part of the side that won the Premiership in 2008 as well as the Heineken Cup in 2007.  The back-rower has subsequently won 33 caps for England and Wasps’ chief executive Chris Thomas was pleased to announce the signing of such a class player.

“James is one of the real success stories from the club’s academy, coming right through our age-grade structure to become one of the best back-row players in the world,” Thomas said.

“James is a world class player and everyone at the club is excited by his return.”