Chris Ashton pays tribute to Wigan and rugby league as he retires

Dual-code international Chris Ashton has called time on his career, and says he knows rugby league could have given him a lot.

Ashton, 36, only made 55 appearances in the 13-man code before switching to union in 2007 with Northampton.

He went on to play for Saracens, Toulon, Sale, Harlequins, Worcester and Leicester Tigers.

Ashton went on to become the record try scorer in the Rugby Union Premiership and the Heineken Challenge Cup.

At times, he has been linked with a return to rugby league, but he stayed in the 15-man game, earning 44 England caps up to 2019.

Rugby league pedigree

He made his rugby league debut for Wigan in the final match of the 2005 season, scoring two tries against Huddersfield.

The following year, he was a contender for the Super League young player of the year award as he stepped in for the injured Kris Radlinski, eventually inheriting Radlinski’s number one jersey.

In total, he played 51 times for Wigan, scoring 28 tries.

Although a dual-code international, his England rugby league appearances came at a time when playing for England was a second tier honour, as Great Britain were still playing regularly.

While GB were on tour in Australia and New Zealand in 2006, Ashton made four appearances for England in the Federation Shield.

On retiring, he said: “Playing for Wigan Warriors was my dream growing up, that was all I wanted to do and I know rugby league would have given me so much too.

“But it’s amazing to look back and see what I’ve been able to do because of both codes and the groups and places I’ve been a part of in my career.

“I’m honoured to have done what I have done, for the clubs I have played for and to represent my country in two codes.

“I still can’t believe all that I’ve been able to do and all that rugby union has given me.

“This game has opened the world to me, taken me to places I never thought I would have been or experienced and I’m so grateful for that.”

Ashton had hinted about a return to rugby league and Wigan back in 2017, but it never came to fruition.

He told The Times: “I’ve always supported Wigan and I watch them every week.

“I’m a massive fan of Wigan and rugby league and I would like to play for Wigan again at some point.”

His former Wigan team-mate, Stuart Fielden, previously revealed that Ashton was earning just £11,000 a year in Super League, signing a £50,000 a year deal at the time to move to rugby union.