Former treiziste switched to rugby union in 2007, this formidable finisher has played in several English clubs (Northampton, Saracens, Sale, Harlequins, Worcester and Leicester since 2022) and has also played a season in the France championship, RC Toulon (2017/18), taking the record for tries scored in a year.
"I feel that this season my body is no longer capable of doing what I want it to do," he said, quoted in a statement from his club, Leicester. "I still enjoy rugby, being with the team every day but if I can't keep the level I want to have, it's time to retire," he said.
Ashton holds the records for tries scored in the Premier League (98) and the European Cup, now the Champions Cup (41). His time in France, in Toulon under Fabien Galthié, also allowed him to win the record for tries scored in a season (24), failing however in the play-off to reach the semi-finals of the Top 14.
In the national team, Ashton was an international in league and XV, scoring 20 tries in 44 caps with the XV de la Rose.
Since joining Leicester midway through the 2021/22 season, he has scored 10 tries in 25 games.
© 2023 AFP