England player Chris Ashton will retire from the game at the end of this season

England all-rounder Chris Ashton announced on Wednesday that he will retire from the game at the age of 36 at the end of this season.

Via Le Figaro with AFP

Posted 04/12/2023 at 15:23

Former England international winger Chris AshtonThe Premier League and European Cup try record holder announced on Wednesday that he will retire from the game aged 36 at the end of the season after an 18-year career.

The ex-Trieste was sent to rugby union in 2007, and the powerful finisher has played for a number of English clubs (Northampton, Saracens, Sale, Harlequins, Worcester and Leicester since 2022), and also played a season in the French Championship at RC Toulon (2017-18). ), capturing a record of attempts recorded in an exercise.

“During this season, I feel like my body can’t do what I want“, he explained, quoted in a press release from his club, Leicester. “I still enjoy rugby and I’m with the team every day, but if I can’t keep the level I want, it’s time to retire.” he said.

Ashton holds the records for tries in the English Championship (98) and the European Cup, which became the Champions Cup (41). His time in France, under Fabian Caldi at Toulon, allowed him to break the record for most tries scored in a season (24), although he failed to reach the semi-finals of the Top 14.

In selection, Ashton was international in the XIII and XV, scoring 20 tries in 44 caps for the XV of the Roses. Since joining Leicester midway through the 2021/22 season, he has scored 10 tries in 25 appearances.