Leicester Tigers veteran Chris Ashton announces retirement at end of 2022/23 Premiership season

Leicester Tigers’ outside-back Chris Ashton will retire at the end of the 2022/23 season, his club confirmed.

The 36-year-old has made 25 appearances for Leicester so far after joining part of the way through last season, but has now decided to call time on his career.

Ashton began his career in rugby league for Wigan Warriors in 2005, before making the switch to rugby union, where he played for Northampton Saints, Saracens, Toulon, Sale Sharks, Harlequins and Worcester Warriors, and played in both disciplines for England as well as the Barbarians.

Ashton is the record Premiership try-scorer with 98, and in the Heineken Champions Cup with 41. He has also won three Premierships, two Heineken Champions Cups and one European Challenge Cup.

Ashton said: “I have just felt, this season, that my body is not able to do what I want it do anymore.

“I am still enjoying the game, enjoying being in and around the team and the game every day, but if I am not able to keep the standards that I expect of myself, then it is the right time for me to retire.

“I am content with the decision and, honestly, I definitely wouldn’t have been had I not been able to come to Leicester Tigers, get back into the game and finish my career on my terms.

“It is the right time for me, I know that, and I am happy in making this decision at this time.”

He continued: “I still can’t believe all that I have 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 am so grateful for that.

“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 is amazing to look back and see what I have been able to do because of both codes and the groups and places I have been a part of in my career.

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

“My time at Leicester Tigers gave me something I thought I might have lost, which was just to play the game again and play until I knew I could keep playing and contributing.

“To be a part of this group, at this club, has been special. This is a unique group of players and unique environment, in the way that they are so resilient, want to do the hard work and have such a no nonsense approach.

“I am grateful to have been able to experience this in my final years and to have been a part of this group of players and people at a club like Leicester Tigers.”

Leicester Tigers interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth said: “Chris changed the game, to put it bluntly. That’s the biggest compliment I can give him.”

“Coming over from rugby league, at a young age, Chris worked diligently, and has never stopped working, to understand the game and to be the very best player he could be.

“He has got a miles better brain for the game than he will ever get credit for and is one of the most competitive players I have played with and coached.

“He, unashamedly, just wants to score tries and is the most relentless try-scorer there has ever been.”