Ashton banned for four weeks

Northampton wing Chris Ashton last night received a four-week ban after being found guilty of dragging Leicester's Alesana Tuilagi off the pitch by his hair in Saturday's fiery east midlands derby.

Ashton, 24, denied the charge of unsportsmanlike conduct for the incident, which occurred in the first half of Northampton's 30-25 defeat at Welford Road and sparked a touchline brawl.