CHRIS BASHTON!
Hot-head wing is sent off and faces ban for punch
CHRIS ASHTON’S return to english rugby is off to the worst possible start with the wing facing a ban for punching a Castres player during a pre-season match for Sale.
ashton, 31, was one of three players sent off in a feisty friendly fixture between the Sharks and the French champions across the channel.
early into the second half, ashton threw a left hook at France scrum-half rory Kockott after a melee at a ruck.
referee romain Poite then showed both men a red card.
it means ashton will have to face a judicial panel in england this week.
as he received a red card, the usual disciplinary process is automatically triggered. The RFU will announce today the charges he will face and the date of the hearing.
ashton could miss at least the first three matches of the Premiership season for his new club, as bans for punching to the head start at four weeks.
a suspension of that kind would mean he has no chance to show eddie Jones his talent before the head coach picks his squad for a training camp on September 20 ahead of the autumn Tests.
Sale start the new season away to Harlequins on September 1 and, if banned, ashton is likely to miss that game and clashes with Worcester Warriors and exeter Chiefs. ashton is no stranger to on-field controversy. in 2016 he was suspended for 13 weeks for biting Northampton prop alex Waller when at Saracens.
and earlier that year he missed 10 weeks for ‘making contact with the eye area’ of Ulster’s luke Marshall, in what was seen by many as a harsh ruling.
Those bans meant he missed out on england selection when at the peak of his playing powers.
Tired with his constant battle for approval, he cut his ties with the national team and moved to French giants Toulon in 2017 feeling there was no hope of another Test call-up. But, having embarrassed Jones’ men by scoring a hat-trick at Twickenham for the Barbarians this summer, he returned home to throw his hat into the ring for next year’s World Cup.
There is no doubting ashton’s supreme finishing ability. in the French Top 14 last season, he scored a record-breaking 22 tries, and has the most scores in european Cup history with 39.
But this latest incident will add weight to the argument that he finds it difficult to control his temper on the field.
Sale ended up winning the game 20-17 in France. Their romanian prop alexandru Tarus also saw red for charging into a ruck with his head — and there were three yellow cards shown in the match.
elsewhere, leicester Tigers’ preparations for the new season continued poorly.
Sportsmail reported last week that there was pressure on head coach Matt O’Connor and unrest behind the scenes. and to make matters worse, leicester lost 26-10 to italian side Benetton Treviso. Former england coach Paul Gustard’s tenure at Harlequins started in embarrassing fashion too. The londoners conceded nine tries to Glasgow Warriors in Perth, losing 50-17 with england players Danny Care, Marcus Smith and Nathan earle all in
the side.