LONDON - England wing Chris Ashton is to leave Saracens for French side Toulon at the end of the season, the English Premiership and European champions announced Tuesday, in a move that could end his Test career. The move appears to end Ashton's hopes of an international recall given England's refusal to select overseas-based players for Test duty save in "exceptional circumstances". In September, Ashton -- who maintained his innocence -- was given a 13-week ban by England's Rugby Football Union for biting Northampton's Alex Waller. But he had indicated a desire to add to his 39 Test caps,the last of which came in June 2014. But the former rugby league star is now on his way to join a star-studded squad at Toulon, themselves three-times European champions, whom Saracens defeated 31-23 in the first round of group matches in this season's European Champions Cup.

Source: Bangkok Post October 25, 2016 11:48 UTC