Chris Ashton charged by RFU over two alleged counts of biting Alex Waller
Wednesday 21 September 2016 00:10, UK
Saracens winger Chris Ashton will face an RFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday after being charged with two counts of biting an opponent.
Ashton has been charged with two acts contrary to good sportsmanship under law 10.4(m) from Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with Northampton Saints at Allianz Park.
The 29-year-old, who joined Sarries from Saints in 2012, is alleged to have twice bitten prop Alex Waller on the hand, the first incident in the 24th minute and the second a minute later.
Ashton will appear before an RFU disciplinary panel chaired by Philip Evans QC, and also including Tom Rees and Paula Carter, in London on Tuesday evening.
The low-entry point for such a suspension is 12 weeks, moving up to 24 weeks at the high end with a maximum of 208 weeks for the worst of offences.
Ashton was banned for 10 weeks, reduced from that low-entry point of 12, last season when he was found guilty of making contact with the eye of Ulster's Luke Marshall during a European Rugby Champions Cup game.
Waller complained to referee Greg Garner straight after the incidents with Northampton coach Jim Mallinder saying: "He (Waller) just repeated what he said to the referee, in that he had been bitten on the hand."
