Chris Ashton thrilled by surprise England recall

Editor

Sale Sharks wing Chris Ashton admitted that he did not expect to be recalled to the international setup so soon after his return to England.

Ashton was named in England head coach Eddie Jones’ 44-man pre-season training camp squad on Thursday.

He last played for England in 2014 and this is his first international call-up since 2016.

It comes after he left Top 14 outfit Toulon on an early release to join Sale Sharks.

“It’s a strange feeling,” Ashton told the BBC.

“I feel like a new player and I’m happy to be back in the group.

“I wasn’t supposed to be back in England. When I went to France I thought that was it for me and I could spend the next few years in France enjoying rugby.

“The season went really well and I enjoyed it, but the more the year went on the more I wanted to be back here and back in this environment.”

The 31-year-old only played for Toulon for one season – after signing a three-year contract – but made a big impact at the French club as he broke the Top 14 try-scoring record, with 24 tries in 23 matches during their 2017/18 campaign.

“It bothers me to think I only did a year at it,” he said.

“I thought I was open-minded, but not enough. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be, and maybe the whole purpose of it was for me to do a year. I hope that anyway.

“Pretty quickly my wife and I realised it was going to be tougher than we thought. We went over with a nine-month-old baby. We both have big families and we’re both very family orientated.

“I did very much enjoy the rugby, but family comes first and if we’re not happy at home it’s not much use.”

Ashton was called up to Jones’ first England squad in 2016, while still playing for Saracens, but missed out on Test selection after he was banned for biting and eye-gouging.

He impressed by scoring a hat-trick for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham in May and said he found it difficult not to play for his country.

“I missed playing for England,” he said.

“It was tough to watch being in England, and I hoped when I moved to France that would go away but it didn’t. I always wanted to be part of it.

“I’m the kind of person that has to learn for myself. I do things and then learn later. I made the decision I wanted to go and try and I did that.

“It’s always bothered me not being involved, but I hope I’ve got a couple of good years left yet at it.”

Ashton is now focused on representing England at next year’s World Cup in Japan and admitted that he was always thinking of the global showpiece while he was in France.

“The day the World Cup isn’t on my mind is probably the day I stop playing,” he said.

“It’s what everyone wants to win and being in France and seeing that opportunity go by would’ve been tough for me to take. I couldn’t accept that.

“Even if I don’t get in and I don’t play for England, at least I’m giving myself the best opportunity.”