CHRIS ASHTON’S England career looks over after he was banned for THIRTEEN weeks for biting.
It took an RFU panel five hours and 22 minutes to dish out the punishment for the controversial Saracens winger who had pleaded not guilty.
Ashton, 29, has kissed his chances of a Red Rose recall goodbye as he will miss all of the autumn internationals and the start of Sarries' European title defence - he can play again on December 19.
He was however cleared of another count of sinking his teeth into Northampton Saints prop Alex Waller for a second time.
The Chairman of the panel Philip Evans QC said: "Having considered detailed evidence the panel concluded that during the course of a ruck Chris Ashton bit the arm of Alex Waller at a time that Mr Waller was attempting to clear him out.
"The panel concluded it was a low-end entry point aggravated by his previous record.”
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Ashton went into the hearing with a 10-week gouging ban from January still fresh on his rap sheet.
And Saracens' millionaire backer and owner Nigel Wray feared that Ashton's bad-boy image in this country could see him look for a fresh start aboard - possibly in France.
Wray said: “What I am hearing described is absolutely not the Chris Ashton I know.
"I very much hope that Chris is not forced out of English rugby because he is a very well-liked and respected member of our family.
“He is one of the hardest workers in the game. I am not a lawyer, but if this was a legal matter the case would not even come to court.”
Former Sarries chief exec Edward Griffiths, the man who signed Ashton from Northampton in 2012 added: “It is increasingly looking like there is one rule for Chris Ashton and one rule for every other professional rugby player in England.
"While a reputation is difficult to cast aside, in this case the reputation is far removed from reality. In English rugby, for citing officers and disciplinary panels, Chris has become guilty until proved innocent and that is a great shame.”
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