Ash puts bite into Sarries
CHRIS ASHTON is set to make his long-awaited return for Saracens against Newcastle today after finishing his latest ban.
The 29-year-old wing, who starts on the bench today, has spent 13 weeks out after being suspended for biting Northampton’s Alex Waller.
And in the meantime he has signed for Toulon in France – torpedoing his England career.
But Sarries boss Mark McCall reckons Ashton has been a model pro, despite his impending move to France and second ban this calendar year.
He said: “It has been difficult for him to come training, but he is a good trainer. He has been in the opposition team every day, but he has done it with good grace and helped the team prepare.”
Diet
In Coventry, Elliot Daly returns for Wasps against Bath in the game of the day after becoming only the fifth England player to be sent off when he was red-carded against Argentina last month.
Leicester travel to Exeter with Manu Tuilagi two games into his comeback from a groin injury, but looking slim thanks to a healthy diet when he was injured which shed 4kg.
Tuilagi said: “That’s what I did at the start of the season – just have fish, veggies, broccoli, to lose weight. But you’ve got to do that when you’re not training, you can’t do it when you’re training, otherwise you’ll faint.”
And on Monday, bottom-feeders Bristol host Worcester in a game that could go a long way to deciding who walks the plank from the Premiership at the end of the season. Today’s Fixtures Saracens v Newcastle Wasps v Bath Exeter v Leicester Boxing Day Bristol v Worcester 1.30 2.00 3.00 3.00