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Five-hour hearing clears Chris Ashton to play with immediate effect

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Fears that the stellar career of Chris Ashton was prematurely ended by last Saturday’s red card have been quashed as the soon-to-retire Leicester winger has had that decision downgraded to a yellow card – freeing him to be selected to play in this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final at Sale.

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Ex-England pick Ashton, who is to hang up his boots at the end of this season, was sent off shortly before half-time in Tigers’ clash with Harlequins and a feared ban was set to end his career a few weeks earlier than planned.

However, following a five-hour disciplinary hearing on Thursday, Ashton has been given a reprieve and is now in line to take on the Sharks this weekend when defending champions Leicester look to reach another league final.

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How Chris Ashton wants to be remembered | Rugby Roots

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How Chris Ashton wants to be remembered | Rugby Roots

The Ashton case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Gareth Graham sitting with Alastair Campbell and John Doubleday and after its conclusion, panel chair Graham said: “The player was charged with dangerous tackling, contrary to law 9.13, following his tackle on Cadan Murley (Harlequins) in the 39th minute of the match on May 6.

“In a hearing that lasted almost five hours, the panel was shown numerous angles of the tackle, many of which were not available to the referee and the match officials at the game. The panel also had the benefit of hearing from Chris Ashton, and from Murley, who were able to describe in detail their involvement in the incident.

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“Ashton accepted committing an act of foul play that would have merited a yellow card. Having seen and heard all the evidence, including that of Murley, who gave a clear account as to the point of contact and the level of force involved in the tackle, the panel agreed with the submission that this was a yellow card offence.

“In arriving at that decision, the panel applied the head contact process, as it was updated by World Rugby on March 1, 2023. This was an incident where there was some degree of head contact and where Ashton accepted committing an act foul play when he made a tackle that was too high.

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“As required by the head contact process, the panel then went on to consider what the degree of danger was in the tackle. Having assessed all the evidence before it, including that of Murley (who told the panel that the initial contact was to his right shoulder, following which the tackle rode up to his neck area, but that any force to his neck was minimal), the panel concluded that there was indirect contact to the head and that any force to the head/neck was low.

“Consequently, the panel concluded that there was not a high degree of danger and that the correct starting point under the head contact process was a yellow card. Therefore, the panel found the charge not proven. Ashton is thereby able to play with immediate effect.”

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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