Chris Ashton, ex-England winger says he saw Leicester Tigers in “his last shot” at continuing his rugby career. He said this after thinking it was over.
Ashton (35), has scored six tries in seven Premiership matches to become the league's all-time leading try-scorer,And last week, they signed a new agreement.
He said, “I had to prove that I could still play and had something to offer.”
“I had to prove a lot to players and fans in order to be accepted. Nobody saw me play here. I wanted everything I'd learnt to be able to put it all together for my final shot.
“Three Months is a long time for reflection and to believe that it's over. It's amazing how quickly things can change.
“I know now that I want to give everything, because this could be my last chance.”
“I had no choice but to accept the situation with both of my hands.”
Ashton, who won the European Champions Cup with Saracens and a Premiership title, stated that it was “the right decision” to move to Tigers after several previous moves “hadn’t worked out”.
In 2017, he left Saracens to go to France with Toulon, where he set the French Top 14 record of 24 tries in a single season. He then returned to England with Sale one year later.
He ended his contract in March 2020 to leave Sale. Short stints at Harlequins, Worcester and other organizations followed.
“Being on a brief-term contract, it was difficult to handle the situation with both my hands and try to be the player that I wanted to be in whatever style I chose,” he said to BBC Radio Leicester.
“I'm enjoying my rugby again, and when your passion is taken away, you're even more grateful when the chance comes back around.”
