A FORMER England and British and Irish Lions player will be this year’s guest of honour at the annual sportsman’s dinner at Oswestry Rugby Club.

James Haskell will be at the event in February to share stories about his illustrious career.

The 34-year-old represented England 77 times after working to reach the top of his sport for 17 years.

Haskell also went abroad to show off his talents there, after moving from England for stints at clubs in France, Japan and New Zealand.

He made his Six Nations debut in the final game of the 2007 tournament against Wales, and went on to become a member of the World Cup team for England in the 2011 and 2015 tournaments.

He retired from professional rugby in May this year, but his sporting career is not entirely over.

The Windsor-born man is taking on a new challenge as he tries his hand at mixed martial arts (MMA), after signing with American MMA promotion company Bellator.

For now, Haskell is turning his attention away from sports, as he focuses on surviving three weeks in an Australian jungle as part of the popular ITV reality television show I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.

Haskell will be sharing a camp with fellow sportsman Ian Wright, American TV personality Caitlyn Jenner and Capital FM radio presenter Roman Kemp.

The sportsman dinner event at Oswestry Rugby Club will take place on Saturday, February 29.

The dress code is black tie and the venue is the Oswestry Showground Pavilion.

Gold package tickets cost £70 per person, while silver package cost £60.

A charity auction will take place in aid of Gobowen-based charity The Movement Centre. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner with tea and coffee, as well as complimentary wine.

To book, contact Mark Jones on 07967 387199 or mark@greenlands.co.uk or call Mike Owen on 07802 302841 or mike@owenstravel.co.uk