Wasps are heading in a 'positive direction' according to England's James Haskell

London Wasps are going in a positive direction, according to England flanker James Haskell.

Wasps recently became the first sports club to launch a retail bond on the London Stock Exchange. Wasps star Haskell joined team-mates Joe Launchbury, Christian Wade, Matt Mullan and Joe Simpson in in Paternoster Square, outside the London Stock Exchange, on Thursday to help to raise the profile of Wasps in the city.

Speaking at Paternoster Square, Haskell was happy with the turnout from the fans.

"You never know how these things are going to work out but Wasps have got some great support," said Haskell. "We've been a London club for some years now and it's great to see people are still coming out and supporting us.

"We're the first sports club to ever release a bond, to appear on the bond market which is very exciting. Wasps made the move to Coventry earlier in the season, and this is just another progression in the full rebuild phase.

"I was at Wasps years and years ago and we always struggled with stuff off the field and I think this is a great progression to now have our own stadium, be financially secure and be able to try revolutionary endeavours like we are here."

Haskell has played a big part in the recent resurgence of Wasps rugby, and says he is taking joy from his role as one of the senior members of the squad.

"I really enjoy it - I relish being captain. Having the opportunity to try and lead from the front is always great as is the added responsibility. I don't feel too old and I don't think I act too old, but in terms of figures I am!

"When I first came in there was an older squad with a lot more experience whereas now we have quite a lot of raw talent with x-factor ability and it's very exciting to be involved in it and I think we've got a lot of good stuff that we are doing.

"We have a great coaching staff here with Dai Young, Brad Davies and Stephen Jones at the moment who is leaving. Hopefully with the desire to sign some good players, keep bolstering the squad and keep things going in a positive direction, it's really good."

Haskell's own good form has brought him back into the England fold, and he points to the positive rugby being played in Coventry for the reason why.

"All teams try to coach a flowing rugby game but it seems to suit us quite well. It can also be our own worst enemy sometimes when we play too much rugby but we're doing well.

"We've got a strong defensive side, and that's how we won the last bit of silverware - we had a good defensive unit. If you get those right and play well, and play boring rugby when it needs to be boring, and exciting when it needs to be exciting, you'll go well.

"There's a certain type of game plan that suits us however there are lots of areas where we need to tighten up and make sure we don't implode.

"I'm really excited to be back involved with England. There is a lot of competition in the back-row I had to wait for an injury to Tom Wood to get the opportunity. Hopefully I took it with both hands but it doesn't really mean anything now - when we meet back up together we will see what will happen with the World Cup.

A competitor for one of the loose forward positions is Toulon's Steffon Armitage, who Stuart Lancaster insists he won't pick unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, but Haskell says he does not give the matter much thought as it’s out of his control.

“The rules are pretty clear really. My personal interpretation of it is not really relevant, I think that people should be able to have a rugby adventure but rules are rules. I came back when I could have stayed in France because I knew I wanted to play for England.

“Steffon is a great player but he knows the rules, if he wants to come back and play for England he has to do that. If they bend the rules for him then they bend the rules for him, it's really out of my control. As a player, we just try crack on with it.”