I’m never satisfied, I want a lot more!
Paul Rees talks to Chris Ashton about his insatiable desire to keep scoring tries
Chris Ashton is at an age when most wings have their feet up as they reflect on past glories, but for the 35-yearold who has resurrected his career at Leicester this year, it is a case of try, try and try again.
Ashton, who joined the Tigers on a short-term contract in February after leaving Worcester, broke the Premiership try scoring record last month, taking his tally to 95. His goal now is to become the first player in the league to reach three figures.
His form has earned him a new one-year deal at Welford Road, and while Ashton is thinking about what he will do after he stops playing, he has not set a date on when he will retire.
“When Steve Borthwick (Leicester’s head coach, below) called me, I knew it would be my last shot,” said Ashton, who started his union career at Northampton before stints with Saracens, Toulon, Sale, Harlequins and the Warriors.
“I never gave it a second thought that I was on a short-term contract to cover for injuries and players away on international duty. I knew I had to take the opportunity with both hands, and while some might not have seen me playing for Leicester, it is a place I feel comfortable at.
“What I have enjoyed most is how driven it is here and the desire for success. The players push it every week and the coaches put how we go about our business in simple messages. I was in a position where rugby might have been taken away from me and I am grateful to be back on the field.”
Ashton spent three months training on his own after leaving Worcester, driven by the desire to prove wrong those who thought that the 44-cap England international was heading towards the category of former player.
“Any player wants to prove people wrong, whether it is a coach who said you won’t make it or a teacher who predicted you would not succeed,” said Ashton. “I had to prove to myself that I could still play and show the Leicester fans that I still had something to offer. I never considered packing it in, but people were doing that for me.
“I played with Steve at Saracens and he coaches as he played but with a bit more depth. There was a similar desire to get better and succeed at Sarries and he wants his players to have an edge and a point of difference. I now want to get up every morning and I need this environment with good people around me.”
Ashton scored seven tries in his first nine appearances for Leicester, four of which were off the bench, and even though he only made his debut on February 11, he went into the latest round of league matches as the club’s third highest scoring back in the Premiership behind Nemani Nadolo and Harry Potter.
“I was missing rugby but I was not looking for any opportunity, just the right one,” said Ashton. “Thankfully, it was Steve who rang. I am happy about breaking the record because I love scoring tries. I feel now as I did when I was five, never satisfied, always wanting more.
“I will keep going to get as many as I can. There are more and more oldies in the game now which shows the level of professionalism players have in looking after themselves better to ensure they can carry on. When you look at Johnny Sexton and Sergio Parisse in the European semifinals, it gives you inspiration.
“Age is just a number. It is about how you prepare yourself and the sacrifices you make. I will play for as long as I can but I have been thinking about what I will do afterwards.
“I do not think a 9-5 office job will suit me any time soon. The rugby environment is the one for me and I would like to help back three players become better finishers, how to get on the ball and score tries. I think there is a niche market there for me.”