North hopes go south for Aussie clash
WALES will be without star wing George North for their November Test against Australia in Cardiff as Northampton are refusing to release him.
North has previously played for Wales in matches that fall outside of the official Test window but it emerged yesterday that under the terms of the contract extension signed with the Saints in the summer, he will not be available.
It leaves caretaker coach Rob Howley, who will name his squad for the autumn series today, without one of his primary assets for the Wallabies Test on November 5.
Northampton have previously been fined by Premiership Rugby for releasing North contrary to the clubs’ collective stance on the issue, which also includes Wales’ other English-based exiles.
Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts, Gloucester back row Ross Moriarty, Exeter prop Tomas Francis and the Bath trio of Luke Charteris, Rhys Priestland and Taulupe Faletau, who is injured anyway, are all covered by the ban as the Premiership clubs stick to their rights over release, despite the match falling on a low-key LV Cup weekend when most will rest their Test players anyway.
The English clubs will, however, release players to England for their Test against Australia on December 3, which also falls outside the window, because of a compensation deal with the RFU.
Chris Ashton looks increasingly likely to leave Saracens and switch to Toulon next season after giving up on an England recall.
Ashton, currently serving a 13-week suspension for biting, is in advanced talks with the French giants, who see him as an ideal replacement for departing Australian wing Drew Mitchell. It will be a case of ‘if you can’t beat them, sign them’ for Toulon, who lost at home for the first time in the European Cup to Saracens on Saturday.
Ashton, 29, has faded from the international picture since being recalled to the England squad by head coach Eddie Jones last year.
He missed out on the Six Nations after being banned for eye-gouging and was then left out of the squad to tour Australia.
Jones picked him for the second-string Saxons tour instead but Ashton pulled out of the trip to South Africa, blotting his copybook irrevocably with the Australian.
A move to France would render him ineligible for England selection, putting an official full stop on a career that brought 19 tries in 39 appearances.
If the switch to the Top 14 is signed off, Ashton will follow in the footsteps of former club-mate David Strettle, who joined Clermont last year. Toulon are also interested in buying Glasgow second row Jonny Gray out of his contract.
Injury-hit Bristol, still without a win this season, have signed former England international Shane Geraghty from London Irish in response to a stand-off crisis.
First-choice Tusi Pisi is ruled out for three months by a groin injury while back-up Adrian Jarvis is also sidelined by a calf problem. With Callum Sheedy (hamstring) and Gavin Henson (dead leg) out of action too, Bristol have moved into the transfer market.
“I’m looking forward to contributing where I can,” said Geraghty, who joins the squad on Monday. “I know just how tough it is to be competitive in the Aviva Premiership but all the right ingredients are there for the club to be successful.”
Howley is left without one of his key assets