Chris Ashton to miss Fiji Test

Chris Ashton will miss England‘s Test against Fiji on November 10 after being handed a one-game ban for picking up three yellow cards.
The Saracens wing was cited after Saracens game against his former club Northampton and received a retrospective yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Vasily Artemyev, a third yellow card for the season which triggered an automatic disciplinary hearing.
As a result, Ashton received a one-match ban starting on November 4, ruling him out of the Fiji clash.
In the meantime, Ashton has been urged by the RFU‘s disciplinary panel to work on his tackle technique after effectively receiving three yellow cards for dangerous play this season.
Panel chairman Judge Blackett said: “We are concerned about his tackling technique and encouraged that he and his coaches work to correct it.
“We were guided by the IRB recommendation that a one week suspension was appropriate for totting up offences.
“The player was not released back to his club by England for Saracens’ game on Sunday, November 4 so it would be inappropriate to commence the suspension immediately.
“We have therefore deferred commencement until Sunday November 4 so he misses a game he would have played in.
“We would like to add that Chris Ashton took a realistic and mature approach to proceedings and expressed genuine contrition.”