ENGLAND’S CHRIS ASHTON has been given a seven-week ban for his tip-tackle on Rory Kockott.
Ashton and Kockott were both sent off during Sale’s pre-season friendly win away to Castres, with video footage showing Ashton lifting Kockott and dropping him on his head.
He contested the charge of foul play but an independent disciplinary hearing found him guilty and issued a punishment that means he will miss an England training camp in Bristol as well as Sale’s first six games of the upcoming Premiership season.
“It is an important principle of rugby regulation to prevent injury to others,” said disciplinary panel chairman Richard Whittam in a statement issued by the RFU .
“Provocation is not a defence to foul play and lifting a player and dropping that player such that his head makes contact with the ground has the potential to cause serious injury,” he added.
Ashton is free to play again on Tuesday 9 October.
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