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Chris Ashton is ready to unleash “ Le Splash” on French rugby having started training with his new club Toulon after five years with European Champions Cup holders Saracens.
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Ashton’s move to France ends any hopes of an England recall for the player who has scored 19 tries in 39 tests for his country and has not been picked for three years. A series of bans and concerns over his defensive play have seen him ignored by Eddie Jones who has tried to contact the player, who holds the European Cup try-scoring record of 37.
Ashton was banned for 13 weeks last season for biting and during that period he decided to look for another challenge away from England.”I saw it as an opportunity that arose at that time and something I asked Saracens to let me think about.”said Ashton. “ I think he (Jones) did ring and leave a message, but I haven’t spoken to him about this. I think his decision was already made up before anyway, after the time I got banned.
“Me coming here (Toulon) was a clean start for me, a refresh, and I knew that would cancel out England, but obviously I was ready for a change.”
Ashton’s famous “Ash Splash” dive when he scores is going to be seen in France and he knows it is the kind of showboating that does divide opinion although he loves it. He added: “Yes, definitely I understand it (annoying some people), but there are two sides to it. For every child or kid that comes over to me and loves it, (that) outweighs someone who doesn’t
“Seeing the players who have previously played here and players who are in the team currently made it an easy decision for me. I wanted to come and be a part of that. Watching the team on TV, many a player would agree with me that it’s an amazing place to play rugby.”
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