Former England winger Chris Ashton is set to shelve retirement plans to join a sixth Gallagher Premiership club.
The controversial winger, who met with Leicester Tigers boss and former Saracens teammate Steve Borthwick this afternoon, left Worcester in December and is currently a free agent.
“We go a long way back,” said Borthwick on Tuesday.
“We played together many, many years ago. I met with him and had a chat just to see where he was at. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to him in a long time. It was really just a sound-out conversation.
“My experience of Chris is someone who is determined to win, very driven and very, very competitive,
“When I played with him, I always enjoyed that. It doesn’t always mean you’re nice and pally. In a driven environment, it’s great to have those people.
“That’s the way I always found him when I was playing alongside him. That’s the way I found him playing against him. That’s what I heard from him when I coached against him in the England squad. I regard that competitiveness as a strength.
“In terms of how and what has happened with other teams, I have no idea and not a huge amount of interest, to be honest. It’s none of my business.
“I just take the guy on what I see and had a chance to chat with him and catch up today.”
Ashton sits third on the all-time list of Premiership try-scorers with 89, which is three shy of Tom Varndell, who has led the standings on 92 scores since February 2017.
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Tuesday’s Rugby Transfers: Cipriani and Robshaw, 7 Tigers signs new deals, Quins hold onto England star
Tuesday’s rugby transfer round-up.
RUMOUR: Saracens prop Richard Barrington could be heading to France at the end of the season, according to The Rugby Paper. FULL STORY
STAYING: England front-rowers Nic Dolly and Joe Heyes and Scotland centre Matt Scott are among seven players to agree new contracts with Leicester Tigers. FULL STORY
RUMOUR: Playmaker Sam Hidalgo-Clyne could become the next player to leave Exeter Chiefs this summer when his contract runs out. FULL STORY
BORROWED: Cornish Pirates have confirmed that hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie has joined the club on a five-week loan deal from Leicester Tigers. FULL STORY