Chris Ashton in mid-season switch to Worcester

Colin Newboult
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Harlequins' Chris Ashton during the Gallagher Premiership match at Sixways Stadium, Worcester.

Worcester Warriors have signed experienced former England wing Chris Ashton, one of the Premiership’s most prolific try-scorers.

Ashton has joined Worcester with immediate effect from Harlequins on a contract to the end of the 2021/22 season.

In addition to increasing options in the back three, Ashton will also help to mentor the club’s less experienced players in those positions.

“We are pleased to welcome Chris to Sixways. He is a quality, proven international, who is equally at home at wing or full-back,” said Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons.

“With Melani (Nanai) out for the season and Noah’s (Heward) return being further delayed, the timing could not have been better.

Role model

“Chris is the consummate professional and will be a good role model for our younger players. I have no doubt that Chris will make his mark here at Sixways.”

Ashton, 33, scored 20 tries in his 44 Tests – 41 of which he started – between 2010 and 2019 including four against Italy at Twickenham in the 2011 Six Nations.

He is third on the Premiership’s all-time list of try-scorers with 88, two behind Mark Cueto and just four short of equalling Tom Varndell’s record.

Ashton’s move to Warriors will reunite him with new head coach Jonathan Thomas, who was part of the Barbarians’ coaching team when Ashton scored a hat-trick in a record 63-45 defeat of an England XV.

“During that week with the Barbarians I enjoyed working with Chris and it gave me the opportunity to see what an outstanding professional he is,” said Thomas.

“We have a few injuries in the back three at the moment so to be able to bring in a player of Chris’s calibre at this stage of the season is a huge boost for us.

“We have created a lot of opportunities in attack this season but haven’t quite been able to finish those off. Chris has a proven record as a prolific try-scorer at this level so having someone who can be clinical in those critical moments in games is important.”

Having started his career in rugby league with Wigan and been capped by England in the 13-a-side code, Ashton made a successful transition to union when he joined Northampton Saints in 2007.

Ashton scored 39 tries in 25 appearances in his first season at Franklin’s Gardens which helped Northampton romp to the Championship – then National One – title.

He was joint leading try-scorer in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, joined Saracens in 2012 and had a season with Toulon in the Top 14 in 2017/18 season before returning to the Premiership with Sale Sharks and then featuring for Harlequins

“I would like to thank Harlequins for agreeing to release me early from my contract to be able to join Worcester Warriors,” Ashton said.

“The ability to continue my career in the Premiership and play regular rugby means that this move is right for me and my family at this time.”

 

Harlequins