Chris Ashton banned: Saracens and England wing ruled out of Six Nations after 10-week ban for eye-gouging

Saracens wing Chris Ashton has been banned for 10 weeks after he was found guilty of eye-gouging Ulster back Luke Marshall, ruling him out of the Six Nations Championship and a possible England return having been recalled to the squad just one week after being named in Eddie Jones’ first squad as head coach.

Ashton has not played for England since the tour of New Zealand in 2014, with the wing omitted from Stuart Lancaster’s Rugby World Cup squad having scored 19 tries in his 39 caps to date.

The 28-year-old appeared to have been thrown a lifeline though when Jones named him as one of four natural wings included in the 33-man squad alongside Marland Yarde, Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell, although had Jonny May not missed out through injury his inclusion could have been in doubt.

But after pleading not guilty to a charge of making contact with or around the eyes of Marshall during Saturday’s 33-17 European Champions Cup victory on Saturday, an independent commission has elected to ban Ashton for 10 weeks, meaning he will not be eligible to play again until after the final Six Nations round on Saturday 19 March.

Ashton can appeal the decision, but he looks a near-certainty to miss England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on 6 February, and Jones will now have to draft in a replacement for the Saracens flyer in what is a first blow to his reign as England head coach.

A statement from European Professional Club Rugby read: "Ashton was cited by the match Citing Commissioner, Yves Thieffine (France), for allegedly making contact with the eye(s) and/or eye area of the Ulster Rugby centre, Luke Marshall (No 13), in the 16th minute of the European Rugby Champions Cup Round 5 match at Allianz Park in contravention of Law 10.4 (m).

"The independent Judicial Officer, Jean-Noel Couraud (France), heard evidence and submissions from Ashton, who pleaded not guilty to the offence, from the Saracens Team Manager, JP O'Reilly, from the Saracens legal representative, Chris Smith, and from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan.

"In upholding the citing complaint, the Judicial Officer found that Ashton had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card. He determined that that offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected 12 weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"He added one week as a deterrent according to World Rugby's memorandum regarding offences of this nature, before reducing the sanction by three weeks due to Ashton's good character and good conduct at the hearing. He then imposed a suspension of 10 weeks.

"Ashton is free to play on Monday, 28 March 2016. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision."

Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni would be in the frame to replace Ashton, given that May is not expected to play again this season.