Former England winger Chris Ashton may hang up his boots after leaving Worcester

Worcester have confirmed that Chris Ashton has ended his ill-fated spell at Sixways by leaving the club – casting doubt on his playing future.

The prolific 34-year-old former England wing has not made an appearance for the Warriors this season and played a total of just four times for them, after signing from Harlequins in January.

In recent months, there has been persistent speculation about a falling-out between Ashton and the Worcester hierarchy.

Chris Ashton has ended his ill-fated spell at Worcester Warriors by leaving the club

The official line was that he was ‘unavailable’, but now he has departed early. His contract had been due to expire at the end of the season. 

Whether or not Ashton is given a chance elsewhere remains to be seen, although there have been rumours linking him with a shock return to Sale. He had a stint at the North West club after returning home from Toulon, where he set a try-scoring record in France’s Top 14 league during a season of personal achievement which was capped with a hat-trick for the Barbarians against England at Twickenham.

That feat forced Ashton back into Eddie Jones’s plans and he earned a Test recall in November 2018 – touching down against New Zealand, in his first England start for more than four years. But his comeback fizzled out and his career has drifted since; from Sale to Harlequins and on to Worcester.

If he doesn’t find another club, it would mark a sad end for a player who lit up union with his ‘Ash Splash’ routine after a cross-code move from Wigan.

The winger celebrates scoring a try for England with his trademark ‘Ash Splash’ in 2011

Meanwhile, the threat of further disruption to European tournaments increased on Monday as both Leinster and Montpellier suspended training to await the result of further Covid testing. 

The teams are supposed to face each other in the south of France on Friday but virus outbreaks in both camps have led to fears that the fixture may have to be cancelled or forfeited. 

Glasgow have followed the example of Wasps by asking that Exeter fans refrain from wearing Native American-style headwear, in line with their Chiefs nickname. The Devon club are considering a change of branding due to a backlash over perceived cultural appropriation.

They visit Scotstoun on Saturday in the European Champions Cup.