Saracens wing Chris Ashton says he is still hoping to win an England recall despite his 13-week ban for biting Northampton’s Alex Waller.
Ashton was suspended by the English Rugby Football Union last week following his clash with Waller during Saracens’ Premiership victory over Northampton on September 17.
The 29-year-old was found guilty in an RFU hearing, with Saracens opting not to appeal the ruling.
Ashton continues to maintain his innocence, but yesterday said he will no longer contest the issue as he focuses on fighting for his international future.
After blowing his bid for a Six Nations recall earlier this year due to a 10-week ban for making contact with the eye of Ulster centre Luke Marshall in January, Ashton will now miss the November internationals as well.
But he still hopes to add to his 39 England caps, the last of which came in June 2014.
“My clear ambition is first to regain my place in the Saracens team and then to regain my place in the England side,” said Ashton, who is free to play again on December 19.
“It may seem a long journey back from the despair of last week’s judgement but I will do everything in my power to get back to where, in my heart, I feel I belong.”
While admitting his frustration at his latest sanction, Ashton also paid tribute to the faith shown in him by Saracens.
“It would be an understatement to say I was disappointed last week to be handed a 13-week ban by the RFU, my second significant ban of 2016,” Ashton told Saracens’ official website.
“I told the disciplinary panel that I did not bite the Northampton prop, just as I had told the panel in January that I did not make contact with the eyes of the Ulster centre.
“Both panels chose to accept the opposing version of events. I did not agree with either verdict but I must and do accept the sanctions.”
“There is no place for biting or gouging in rugby, and World Rugby are 100% correct in seeking to eradicate these actions.”
“I would like to thank publicly Saracens for their support during these times.”
Ashton, who last played for England in the summer of 2014, was recalled to the England squad for this year’s Six Nations, only for his 10-week ban to rule him out of the tournament.
He was not chosen for the summer tour to Australia and was picked instead in the Saxons squad for the trip to South Africa, but he pulled out. He will be available for Saracens again just before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Bath have signed the Crusaders’ centre Robbie Fruean, who will join at the end of October. He will link up again with the club’s director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, who moved from New Zealand in the summer. The former Gloucester prop Shaun Knight has signed a short-term cover after the loss of David Wilson to Newcastle.

Noves says France door open to ousted Dulin
France coach Guy Noves insisted on Tuesday the door is still open for full-back Brice Dulin to force his way back into the national set-up.
Noves has not picked 26-year-old Dulin, who has 24 caps, since taking over the role following the 2015 World Cup, preferring instead his former charge at Toulouse, Maxime Medard, and South African-born Scott Spedding. And even though Spedding pulled out of this week’s three-day France training camp, Noves still didn’t bring in Dulin, saying his Racing 92 side was already depleted enough by four other international call-ups.
“I really do watch his matches and follow his progression,” said Noves, who coached Toulouse for 22 years before taking over the France reins. “His name has come up but there are also teams playing in the Top 14 who have lots of players involved, so I don’t want to pillage the clubs.”
“But if Spedding is out (of the November tests), there’s a good chance Brice Dulin will join us with Max Medard, so he’s not been ditched at all.”