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Worcester latest on 'unavailable' Ashton ahead of Diamond arrival
The last thing ex-England winger Chris Ashton could have imagined when he joined Worcester last January was that Steve Diamond, the coach with whom he had a major falling out with at Sale in February 2020, would arrive in the door at the Warriors as their new lead rugby consultant.
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It is a position that will see Diamond act as a go-between between rookie head coach Jonathan Thomas and seasoned director of rugby Alan Solomons, and one of the first items likely in his in-tray when he officially starts work next Monday will be a resolution to the frustrating situation where it is rumoured that Ashton has been suspended by the club following an alleged bust-up with management.
The supposed acrimony is a far cry from ten months ago when Ashton was wheeled out for a media briefing on just his second day at Worcester having opted to leave Harlequins, even though he had a deal with the London club through to the end of the 2020/21 season.
“Some other players might not necessarily be in that mindset, they will stick with it and probably not play until the summer. I’m not that way. I have only got a short period of time left in my career and I need to take advantage of that. I didn’t want to miss the next six months of playing time when I could be helping elsewhere,” explained Ashton about his eagerness at the time to switch to Worcester.
Now, though, he has found himself stuck in a similar-type limbo, contracted through to the end of the 2021/22 season but not featuring in the team. It was nine weeks ago when Worcester boss Thomas originally dismissed there was an issue with Ashton, a rumour that had emerged via Andy Goode on The Rugby Pod.
"In terms of how it came about, I can’t answer that"
– With the Worcester stage set for Steve Diamond to start work next Monday, @heagneyl ??? has heard from Jonathan Thomas about the prospect of having a no-nonsense line manager #Warriors #GallagherPremhttps://t.co/tHPhJv769w
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 24, 2021
“Rumour has it, I have heard on the grapevine he [Ashton] ain’t happy, Worcester ain’t happy with him, he is going to be leaving there soon,” claimed Goode at the time. “I genuinely have heard that.” Thomas, though, quickly dismissed this at his weekly media briefing. “Who was it with the rumour? Andy Goode, I’ll have to give him a call after this,” quipped Thomas.
“Goodey likes to say ‘I’ve heard’ or ‘I have got a source’, he likes that one. He can just give me a call, he has got my number, he can call and ask me. He hasn’t done that. I have just hugged him [Ashton] on the training field, so what do you think?”
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That hugging, though, appears to have stopped. It was at the end of October when Sportsmail reported that legal procedures were underway and the 34-year-old’s contract could be terminated after just four appearances for the club – all of them in February and March shortly after he joined.
Having earned the last of his 44 England caps in February 2019, Ashton has had his issues with injury at Worcester but they haven’t confirmed that his latest ongoing absence is injury-related. The club’s local beat newspaper reporter asked on Tuesday: “And my weekly question about Chris Ashton, will he be available this weekend?”
“No, Chris is unavailable for selection,” said Thomas, who was asked later in the briefing by RugbyPass did he at least have a message for Worcester supporters who must be looking at the Ashton situation with a sense of bemusement that they are not getting answers. “Unfortunately there is not. I just can’t comment. He is just unavailable for selection at this time and I can’t comment any further on that matter.”
Adding to the intriguing situation at Worcester is the imminent arrival of Diamond, the ex-Sale director of rugby who hurriedly offloaded Ashton to Harlequins nearly two years ago. It’s difficult to imagine then working together again given that Diamond explained in March 2020: “There is no situation, just a disagreement on how we want to play the game. He wants to do it one way, I want to do it another and that is it, so end of story.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments