Tuesday 25 October 2016 17:50, UK
Saracens winger Chris Ashton will join Toulon at the end of the season.
Ashton will leave for France after five seasons at Sarries during which he has become the club's leading try-scorer.
He has won the Aviva Premiership twice and the European Champions Cup and the 29-year-old will be hoping to add to that tally by the end of the season, although he is currently serving a 13-match ban for biting Northampton's Alex Waller and is not available until 19 December.
The move to Toulon means Ashton has effectively called time on his England career. Foreign-based players are not allowed to play for England unless there are 'exceptional circumstances' and that is unlikely to apply to Ashton, whose last Test appearance was against New Zealand in 2014.
Mark McCall, Saracens' director of rugby, said: "We would like to thank Chris for his contribution to Saracens over the last five seasons and the role he played in helping us create some incredible memories during that period.
"Chris will still have an important role to play this season and we'll look forward to seeing him back in action after his suspension."
Ashton said: "I'd like to put on record my thanks to Mark McCall, Nigel Wray and the whole team at Saracens for the manner in which they have dealt with my request to join Toulon next season.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Allianz Park and I have made so many special memories on and off the field.
"I have developed as a player during my time with Sarries but more importantly I have developed as a person, and I will always be indebted to the club for that.
"There is a tremendous culture at Saracens and the bond between everyone here is very tight. It will be a real wrench for me to leave all that behind at the end of the season but I'm looking forward to a new challenge at Toulon next year.
"My focus now is helping the squad prepare for Leicester Tigers on Saturday, contribute to the side when I return to action later this year and hopefully make a few more memories together in a black and red shirt."
