Return to Premiership earns Ashton an England recall

Chris Ashton has been included in England's pre-season training squad after returning to the Gallagher Premiership in order to revive his international career.
Chris Ashton is back in the England squad (PIcture: PA)Chris Ashton is back in the England squad (PIcture: PA)
Chris Ashton is back in the England squad (PIcture: PA)

Ashton has not added to his 39 caps since Eddie Jones replaced Stuart Lancaster, partly due to a succession of bans, but having swapped Toulon for Sale this summer he is back in contention.

“Chris is an exceptional player, I think we have seen that from his form at Saracens. And then at Toulon he has played exceedingly well,” said Eddie Jones.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He’s come back to England because he wants to play for England so he has got the right desire and the right attitude. It will be good to work with him.”

Dylan Hartley is back for England (Picture: PA)Dylan Hartley is back for England (Picture: PA)
Dylan Hartley is back for England (Picture: PA)

Dylan Hartley features in the 44-man squad that will participate in a three-day training camp in Teddington which begins on Saturday.

Hartley missed the summer tour to South Africa due to concussion and has not played since the final match of the NatWest 6 Nations against Ireland at Twickenham, but has returned to full fitness.

The only players who were involved against the Springboks not present this weekend are flanker Brad Shields, wing Denny Solomona and number eight Billy Vunipola, who was forced home with a recurrence of a fractured arm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Still missing due to “injury, fitness or other” are prop Dan Cole, centre Jonathan Joseph, centre Manu Tuilagi and full-back Anthony Watson, but there is no mention at all of scrum-half Danny Care.

Saracens’ South African flanker Michael Rhodes is among a contingent of uncapped players included after qualifying for England on residency grounds.

“This is a pre-season camp so a lot of our players, particularly the ones who went on the South African tour, have just started training with their clubs,” Jones said.

“It’s a chance to get a group of players together to have a chat about the season ahead and look at the important areas in developing the team. With just over 12 months until the World Cup, it’s an important time.

“We haven’t selected everyone. There are a number of players we rested from the tour that we have allowed to continue their pre-season with their clubs.”