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Chris Ashton defends property investment with Saracens owner Nigel Wray

(Photo by Getty Images)

Former Saracens wing Chris Ashton has defended his decision to invest in a property with the club’s owner Nigel Wray.

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Ashton, who played for Saracens for five seasons before leaving in 2017, was named in a leaked report after he bought a £1.4million property, which Wray and another director paid 20 per cent towards.

“The investment was completely separate to the rugby for me,” said Ashton on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

“Nigel was never involved in any negotiations of contracts or anything like that. I saw Nigel as a businessman outside of rugby that I went to see to get a loan, like I would from the bank.

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“It was completely separate to my contract. Nigel likes property, he invests in property. He came along to the house to see it with me, we had a look round and he gave some thoughts on what we could do.

“I can completely understand why people are annoyed about it because it is a benefit that you don’t get at other clubs. Now I do understand. I do see it. At the time, I didn’t.”

The Premiership and European title holders were fined £5.36million and docked 35 league points for breaking the salary cap for the last three seasons.

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Wray has stepped down as chairman and Saracens will be relegated at the end of the campaign.

Ashton, 32, who now plays for Sale, said he has paid Wray back.

The former England international added: “We had a solicitors’ drawn-up contract to say that Nigel owned his percentage of the house and when the house was sold he would receive all his money back. I’ve paid that back.”

– AssociatedPress

England coach Eddie Jones has suggested Saracens’ salary-cap scandal could galvanise the English team ahead of the Six Nations:

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J
JG 31 minutes ago
Springboks' No.1 status in world rankings coming under increased threat

Well said RugCs. These rankings never have and never will be of any significance to the Springboks. Our team plays to win for its country and its people. How many times do Rassie and Siya need to repeat that before it sinks in. Speak to Razor Robertson and I suspect he will tell you the same thing. Our countries will not allow their rugby success to be measured by an illogical, mathematically complicated concoction of a ranking system, dreamt up by some disgruntled and status-starved Northern Hemisphere lackeys of World Rugby in an attempt to score themselves some desperate international recognition as being the “best of world rugby”. What absolute hogwash!!

As with any of the other major team sports that compete for World Cup glory, a nation’s success is measured by its ability to win the “holy grail” of the sport - the World Cup!!!

Between them, the world's undisputed best two teams, South Africa and New Zealand hold 7 of the 10 World Cup Champions titles won thus far in Rugby's history. Until such time as any other nation surpasses that, you can bring along as many ranking systems as you like - you will NOT change that status quo.

AND here’s the irony. These two true champion rugby nations, neither of whom have the highest regard for World Rugby's “plastic ranking system” - quite coincidentally happen to be the top two teams on that very ranking table. Now, isn’t that hilarious.

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