Ashton yearns for England return

Editor

Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton is determined to win back his Test spot having missed out on Six Nations involvement.

Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton is determined to win back his Test spot having missed out on Six Nations involvement.

Ashton's international form dipped during the November Tests, and the rugby league convert was a shadow of the man who burst onto the international scene three years ago, and lit up the tournament.

At present, Stuart Lancaster has favoured young but in-form wingers Jack Nowell of Exeter Chiefs, and Gloucester's Jonny May; both of whom are fast adapting to life at the pinnacle of the sport.

And with Marland Yarde returning from injury, and fellow rookie Christian Wade still sidelined, Ashton faces a fight to regain his England jersey.

That has not deterred the 26-year-old, however, who has his sights trained on the 2015 World Cup – hosted by England – and a British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand three years down the line.

“These things are tough but it is something every player has to go through in their career,” Ashton told the Hillingdon and Uxbridge Times.

“There are so many things I want to accomplish, a Grand Slam, a World Cup on home soil, British and Irish Lions, all new territory that I want to be involved in.

“I won a Six Nations before but never the Grand Slam. That's right at the top of things I want to do, but first and foremost I have got to get back in the team.

“When you are on the wing, it is a lot more exposed. If you miss that tackle, it is a lot clearer to see than it is in the middle of the pitch.

“But that's part of the game. You are accountable for it and it's something I have to keep working on.”