Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton is to appeal his 10-week ban. The 28-year-old star was handed the suspension after he was found guilty of making contact with the eyes of Ulster centre Luke Marshall during their recent Champions Cup match.

The ban means Ashton is currently set to miss the entirety of England's Six Nations campaign. However, his club side have confirmed he will be appealing the ban.

Ashton had only just been recalled to the England squad by new coach Eddie Jones after an 18-month absence when he was handed the suspension. The winger was looking forward to resuming his international career in England's opening game of the tournament against Scotland on 6 February.

Prior to the hearing on 19 January, Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall suggested the decision to cite Ashton was an unfair one.

"I would love to talk about it, I really would – I have a very strong view on it. But I don't suspect it is that wise to talk about it when the hearing is tomorrow [20 January]," he said, according to the Daily Mail. "I am hoping that fairness will win through and everything is OK and he will be free to play against Toulouse this weekend for us."

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