Ashton to face RFU disciplinary panel for alleged biting incident

Chris Ashton will appear before a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel on Tuesday after the Saracens wing was cited for allegedly biting Northampton Saints’ Alex Waller twice.

But Alex Waller’s yellow card, followed by Jamie George’s opening try, turned the tide and from their Saracens never looked back in a 27-12 success, much to McCall’s delight.

Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder confirmed after the game that Saints prop Alex Waller said he had been bitten on the hand. “I could see there was definitely something there because Waller reacts and it is definitely something that needs to be investigated”.

If the biting charge is proved, he could be looking at another long lay-off and it would be another blow to his England chances.

Northampton’s powerful runners Louis Picamoles and George North both made headway as Saints – winners on three previous Premiership trips to Allianz Park – did not take a backward step before another Myler penalty tied things up.

Back in the spring, Ashton watched from home during England’s triumphant Six Nations campaign after receiving a 10-week ban for an eye gouge on Ulster and Ireland centre Luke Marshall.

The 29-year-old, who could be handed another lengthy ban if found guilty, was last month left out of England coach Eddie Jones’s 45-man elite player squad.

Waller, meanwhile, was sin-binned in the second period for a risky tackle on Saracens hooker Jamie George, with Saracens scoring 12 unanswered points during his absence as the game turned on its head.

His last England appearance came against New Zealand in 2014.