Bungling Stuart Lancaster decided that Ashton’s 19 tries in 39 games wasn’t good enough when he played his last game in a Red Rose shirt against the All Blacks in 2014.
Eddie Jones dubbed the rugby league convert “as mad as a cut snake” when he first took over as England boss.
Chris Ashton touches down in the flamboyant style that makes him controversialGetty Images
He immediately picked Ashton - only for the winger to be harshly banned for gouging which ended his Six Nations hopes.
An invite to tour with the Saxons to South Africa in 2016 was politely declined.
It was typical Jones psychology - the Aussie boss knew he wasn’t going to say yes.
And who can blame Ashton - the best finisher in England had just won the Premiership and European Cup.
Ashton was world-class - not second class.
Intriguingly as all this went on, Ashton’s best-mate and former Northampton Saints teammate Dylan Hartley was experiencing a character revival and was picked as England captain.
Eddie Jones led England to glory in the Six Nations without wing Chris AshtonAlamyWing Chris Ashton is swapping European glory with English giants Saracens for rollercoaster French club ToulonGetty Images
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Pictures of the pair and Mike Tindall on their infamous booze night out at the 20111 World Cup went around the globe.
The Altitude bar in Queesntown, where the Lions will head this summer, also had a dwarf-throwing night on.
Tindall insists that none of the tearaway trio tossed a tiny man - history one day might be kinder to them.
At the same tournament Ashton, Hartley and James Haskell were also accused of alleged verbal sexual harassment towards a Dunedin hotel employee.
Add this year’s biting incident and it’s 13-week ban and you can easily paint Ashton as a monster.
Speak to anyone that knows or plays with him and you won’t hear a bad word spoken about him.
Rival fans love to hate him - but it’s only been a love story at Sarries after England fans were deprived of more Swan dives from flash Ash.
Rugby’s Mr Marmite isn’t everyone’s flavour - but you’ll miss him when he’s gone.
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