by Our Sports Desk

England wing Chris Ashton was hoping to rescue his Six Nations yesterday by appealing against the length of the 10-week suspension that has ruled him out of the tournament.

Having examined the written judgement, Saracens are to contest the ban issued for making contact with the eye area of Ulster centre Luke Marshall in the Champions Cup victory at Barnet Copthall on January 16.

Saracens will contend that 10 weeks is too severe a punishment for the incident, despite having failed in a plea for a reduction once already.

The written judgement, published on Friday, revealed that Ashton’s legal team felt the entry-level sanction of 12 weeks for the offence would be “wholly disproportionate” for reasons including the act had no bearing on the outcome of the match and no injury was inflicted on Marshall. Ashton’s good disciplinary record was also highlighted.

It was requested that any suspension be reduced by a minimum of 50 per cent but judicial officer Jean Noel Couraud declined, citing a previous case for support and noting World Rugby directives of 2009 and 2014 demanding sanctions that would act as a deterrent against the offence of making contact with the eye or eye area.