Chris Ashton Ban Moved Following Some ‘Shady’ Fixture Tactics From Sale Sharks
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Caught out.
Chris Ashton’s 10-game ban for a tip tackle on Castres scrumhalf Rory Kockott has been moved after his club Sale were ‘caught out’ by The Times.
As reported by Alex Lowe, Sale included a pre-season friendly as part of the suspension that is listed by them as taking place on the 24th of August, one day after Ashton’s hearing with the disciplinary panel.
But it appears no game took place on the 24th. Sale Sharks played Sale FC on the 23rd of August – the day before, so it would seem strange that they would place two games in-a-row.
To make matters worse, Sale also tried to “claim a Probables v Possibles game at the club’s training ground should count in the ban. That argument was swiftly rejected by the panel.”
Some seriously ‘shady’ tactics if you ask us. Ashton will now not play before Eddie Jones names his his Autumn Internationals England squad.
Dates of Chris Ashton's suspension moved – he will now not play before England's autumn squad is named.
The change was made after @TimesSport revealed Sale had included a cancelled friendly on the fixture list submitted to the panel.
Sale will not face RFU action for mistake.— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) September 6, 2018
The RFU has accepted Sale's version of events, that the inclusion of the cancelled fixture on the list was a mistake. The full judgement may reveal whether Sale had to explain how it happened.
— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) September 6, 2018
It doesn't. But it does reveal that Sale then tried to claim a Probables v Possibles game at the club's training ground should count in the ban. That argument was swiftly rejected by the panel.
— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) September 6, 2018
The Sale FC v Sharks game was listed for Aug24, day after the hearing. Panel was assured Ashton was due to play.
Panel: “Somewhat surprisingly that fixture did not take place”.
Sale FC played Aug23, night of the hearing. Seems unlikely they’d have agreed two games in two days.— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) September 6, 2018
