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Chris Ashton signs deal for Saracens

  • 19-01-2012 2:34pm
    #1
    .ak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭


    Source:
    PlanetRugby wrote:
    Chris Ashton has signed a long-term deal with Saracens, and the England wing will join the north London club at the start of next season.

    A spokesman for the Aviva Premiership champions confirmed the news.

    "We are obviously especially delighted but, for now, Chris remains a Northampton player," he said.

    "Out of respect for Saints, Saracens will not make any further comment on the matter."

    A move to Saracens has been on the cards for Ashton for the past few months, after he made it clear that he would not be renewing his deal at Northampton.

    The 24-year-old has scored 90 tries in 106 appearances for the Saints following his cross-code switch from Wigan in 2007.

    Ashton has also scored 15 tries in 18 Tests for England, and at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand he scored six tries which made him the tournament's joint top try-scorer with France's Vincent Clerc.

    Interesting. I wonder what's happening at Northampton? Last year they looked to be THE emerging power of English rugby? Now Ashton is gone, and possibly Downey?


Comments

  • #2
    thomond2006
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    Saracens will have a great back three with Ashton, Strettle and Alex Goode. Wyles and Short are good backups too.


  • #3
    pappyodaniel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,803 ✭✭✭pappyodaniel


    What's the word on Downey?

    Wouldn't mind seeing him in the red of Munster.


  • #4
    Tox56
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,636 ✭✭✭✭Tox56


    Roger Wilson moving too.


  • #5
    CatFromHue
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,266 Mod ✭✭✭✭CatFromHue


    While he has scored 90 tries for Northampton the full breakdown is:
    Aviva - 30
    HEC - 8
    LV Cup - 4
    Challenge Cup - 7
    EDF National Energy Trophy - 2
    National League 1 - 39

    He's played 46 Aviva and 17 HEC games so his strike rate is 1 try every 1.65 top class games.

    You can say whatever you want about him but he is a very good player.


  • #6
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    Downey, Wilson and Ashton leaving. Mallinder is class.


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  • #7
    ambid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,591 ✭✭✭ambid


    I wonder if they'll look at Fionn Carr as a potential replacement.


  • #8
    .ak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,308 ✭✭✭✭.ak


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    Saracens will have a great back three with Ashton, Strettle and Alex Goode. Wyles and Short are good backups too.

    A little OT but come to think of it England are developing some great FBs at the moment....


  • #9
    almighty1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,183 ✭✭✭almighty1


    Wonder now how long Northampton will hold onto the mecurial Foden?


  • #10
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    almighty1 wrote: »
    Wonder now how long Northampton will hold onto the mecurial Foden?
    The ink is still drying on his latest contract with them...


  • #11
    almighty1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,183 ✭✭✭almighty1


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    The ink is still drying on his latest contract with them...

    Ah I see. Sure he is kicking himself. Himself and Ashton are/were pure dynamite.


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  • #12
    buck65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,969 ✭✭✭buck65


    Ashton for me will be a player that always attracts the wrong sort of attention, wasn't happy in the Saints team recently and refused new contract. Actually the Saints might be more likeable without him.


  • #13
    bamboozle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,699 ✭✭✭bamboozle


    buck65 wrote: »
    Ashton for me will be a player that always attracts the wrong sort of attention, wasn't happy in the Saints team recently and refused new contract. Actually the Saints might be more likeable without him.

    dont worry Lawes and Hartley are still there, plenty to dislike...

    suprised to see ashton go to Saracens from a rugby perspective as they are so bl00dy boring and negative, he wont see as much ball as he currently does.

    Rewatched last years HC final recently, at the end of the match, cameras zoom in on mallinder giving a rousing speech to his troups in a huddle, Stuart Barnes says something along the lines of 'this result will either be the making or breaking of the Saints'....looks like its been the breaking.

    Ashton, Downey and Wilson all leaving will mean significant rebuilding will be required.


  • #14
    buck65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,969 ✭✭✭buck65


    I dunno, Wilson and Downey are certainly replacable. Ashton not so easy, still think Saints are one of the best teams in Europe, I think the loss in Thomond was a bigger set back to them, seemed to completely lose focus against the Scarlets.


  • #15
    bamboozle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,699 ✭✭✭bamboozle


    buck65 wrote: »
    I dunno, Wilson and Downey are certainly replacable. Ashton not so easy, still think Saints are one of the best teams in Europe, I think the loss in Thomond was a bigger set back to them, seemed to completely lose focus against the Scarlets.
    agreed


  • #16
    Cardinal Richelieu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,407 ✭✭✭Cardinal Richelieu


    .ak wrote: »
    Source:



    Interesting. I wonder what's happening at Northampton? Last year they looked to be THE emerging power of English rugby? Now Ashton is gone, and possibly Downey?

    The £4 million Club Salary cap seems to be Mallinder main moan since Leinster bet them in the HC Final. Makes you wonder how Saracens can afford all those South African players on the same budget while Northampton struggles even with the extra £30,000 per home grown player they receive above the cap.


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