
James Haskell's debt hits £1.5 million amid legal row over damaged property at his failed rented gym
The former rugby star, 40, opened a F45 fitness centre in Bath seven years ago, which never survived the pandemic, and is now in nearly £1 million debt.
According to its latest accounts, Hask 45 (Bath) Ltd reveals that it is in 'an ongoing legal dispute with the landlord in respect of rent, and other services including repair of the damage site and equipment'.
The firm is now £927,738 in the red - although £437k of that figure is to another of the 40-year-old's firms.
Plans to expand the fitness enterprise to London and Manchester ground to a halt during the pandemic - Hask 45 (Manchester) Ltd was shut down in March 2021 and Hask 45 (Richmond) Ltd shut down in September 2022.
Another of his firms Hask 45 Ltd is £456,367 in debt, according to accounts filed this month and upto 31 May 2024.
James has also got two other sport companies in the red. James Haskell Health & Fitness has losses of £58,318 while Rugby Connections UK is £68,855 in debt.
In total, the debt from the four firms comes to £1,511,278. The ex-England international first announced his plans to open a F45 franchise site in 2017.
He said: 'I tried F45 in the US when I was over there on holiday. I found the circuit based training really engaging and fun.
'It's all the kind of stuff I would use to get fit for rugby, and for the majority of people, regular F45 sessions are everything they need to maintain and achieve good levels of fitness.
'I think people are crying out for an accessible, group-based fitness programme that isn't intimidating, and most importantly delivers amazing results. That is what F45 is all about and why I am so delighted to be involved.
'I have always loved Bath as a city, it's rich in rugby history and has a young, fitness-focused demographic, which suits our target audience and ambition.'
It comes after James recently discussed what really caused his marriage to Chloe Madeley to end after five years.
Haskell and Chloe, 37, the daughter of television presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, split when their daughter, Bodhi, was aged just one at the time.
He explained his love of boozing contributed to the demise of their union.
'If I put more time into my marriage than I did Guinness, then I wouldn't be divorced now,' Haskell said.
Speaking at the Pub in the Park festival in west London, James said he now has a much better relationship with Chloe.
'It's one of those things in life where some things don't work out, but I have so much love for my daughter and Chloe,' he told the Daily Mail's Richard Eden. 'It's team work.'
He added: 'What we all forget is when you have children and a marriage finishes, it's all about the kids. Chloe and I are amazing co-parents. Our priority is always Bodhi.'
Haskell said he's now single after dating advertising executive Helen Barclay at the start of the year.
'I don't really date,' he says. 'My priority is not that at the moment. I don't need anyone. I'm very happy and comfortable.
'My focus is, obviously, saying goodbye to my dad, work, and being the best dad in the best order.'
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