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Ashton receives 13-week ban for biting

Ashton was cited for two incidents during the weekend’s Aviva Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Northampton Saints.

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The low entry point for a player found guilty of biting is 12 weeks, which can be cut by up to half if there are mitigating circumstances, such as a guilty plea, contrition and a previously good disciplinary record.

Will Greenwood on Chris Ashton’s “brain snaps” which could cost him any chance of returning to the England team.

Ashton’s prospects of playing for England will be affected once again now, with this fresh 13-week suspension ruling him out of contention for the Red Rose’s next squad.

In January he had been recalled by new England head coach Eddie Jones after spending 18 months in the worldwide wilderness, only to surrender his place in the squad when he was found to have raked his hands across Marshall’s face.

Waller complained to referee Greg Garner straight after the incidents with Northampton coach Jim Mallinder saying: “He (Waller) just repeated what he said to the referee, in that he had been bitten on the hand”.

That suspension ruled him out of the Six Nations and he wasn’t selected for England’s tour of Australia.

“He’s had more press than most people get in these situations”, McCall said. “That’s what we’re doing”.

He was sent to the sin-bin five times in his first season with Saracens in 2012-13, picking up a one-match ban.

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“I’ve really seen Chris Ashton grow as an individual in the four years I have known him”.

Ashton chews on long ban after double bite