England winger Chris Ashton has been banned for seven weeks for a tip-tackle in a preseason game.
It’s a disastrous return to the English scene for the controversial Ashton who has joined Sale from Toulon with an eye to impressing national coach Eddie Jones a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
Ashton had been sent off for the dangerous tackle playing for Sale Sharks in a warmup game against Castres
He will now miss the first six weeks of the English Premiership.