Chris Ashton

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Chris Ashton bigraphy, stories - Rugby player

Chris Ashton : biography

29 March 1987 –

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Chris Ashton (born 29 March 1987 in Wigan, Greater Manchester) is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union. Ashton is a dual-code international who plays wing for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership and formerly played as a fullback or on the wing for Wigan Warriors in Rugby League’s Super League competition.

Playing style

Ashton’s support play, which he learnt during his days as a Rugby League player, has been praised and is often cited as the main reason that he is such a prolific try scorer. The Telegraph, 12 February 2011 Another of Ashton’s key attributes is his speed, which he demonstrated by scoring a 90-metre try against Australia in the autumn of 2010, RugbyDump.com, 18 November 2010 during this try he outran Drew Mitchell and James O’Connor, two of Australia’s fastest wingers. When Ashton scores, he often performs a "swallow dive". BBC Sport, 17 February 2011 He has been praised and rebuked in equal measure for it, with many people worrying that it will one day lead to him dropping the ball in the act of scoring. BBC Sport, 12 February 2013

Rugby league career

Wigan Warriors

Ashton’s position at Wigan Warriors was full-back. He also operated on the wing. Ashton came through Wigan’s scholarship programme and played in Wigan U18s in 2003. He made his senior debut in Wigan’s last match of the 2005 season. He scored two of their seven tries in a 36–22 victory over Huddersfield. After impressing in the academy, where he scored 27 tries in 23 games, he made his Super League debut against Hull in June 2005, at the age of 18.

Ashton was brought into the Wigan squad at the start of 2006 as replacement for the injured Kris Radlinski. He had impressed on his debut in 2005, but in 2006 he showed good skill, pace and talent and impressed many Wigan fans and people within Rugby League. Ashton was one of the most consistent players for Wigan during 2006’s disappointing Super League XI season and was a contender for the Young Player of the Year award. He finished the 2006 season with 15 tries from 29 appearances making him the leading try scorer for Wigan.

Ashton was given the number 1 shirt at the start of 2007 despite the arrival of former Bradford Bulls full back Michael Withers. Previously the number 1 shirt was worn by Radlinski and had been for 12 years and many people believed that Ashton had the talent to be a good replacement for Radlinski.

He made 52 appearances for the Cherry and Whites, scoring 30 tries.