Chris Ashton awaits appeal outcome with 6 Nations participation at stake

England wing Chris Ashton must wait until Thursday to discover if his appeal against the 10-week suspension that has ruled him out of the RBS 6 Nations has been successful.

Saracens have contested the length of the ban issued for making contact with the eye area of Ulster’s Luke Marshall and having have heard submissions, the appeal hearing has adjourned overnight.

Ashton pulled Marshall to the ground with his left arm in the first half of the Champions Cup victory on January 16, while also grabbing the Irish international’s face with his right hand.

The judicial officer viewed the tackle as a red-card offence that exposed Marshall to the risk of serious injury.

However Saracens contend that 10 weeks is too severe a punishment for the incident.