1
A 2018 Barbarians appearance helped convince Worcester to sign Chris Ashton, but he won't debut this weekend
By Liam Heagney
Worcester boss Jonathan Thomas has revealed that the good impression made by Chris Ashton while they worked together with the Barbarians in 2018 was a factor in Warriors signing the veteran England winger this week on an 18-month deal.
Ashton had struggled to settle at Harlequins since his switch last March but Worcester have now provided him with the platform to go and chase down the five tries he needs to become the Premiership's all-time record try scorer. He won't made a debut this weekend, though, as Worcester haven't selected him for Saturday's game versus Exeter.
It was only earlier this month that ex-Wales forward Thomas was promoted to head coach at Worcester under Alan Solomons, so the recruitment of players is a responsibility that is new to him.
However, he believes his club have got the signing of Ashton spot on, Thomas explaining how a positive impression left on him in 2018 fed into the decision that the 34-year-old would be a good addition for the Sixways club.
The Barbarians link-up came about when Pat Lam coached the invitational side in their 63-45 win over England at Twickenham, a match in which Ashton scored a hat-trick against his country for a team that Thomas was involved with as an assistant coach as he was at the time working with Lam at Bristol.
Nearly three years later, the memory of that week hadn't been forgotten. 'The big thing we want as a club is to make sure when we do bring people into our environment that they do add value on and off the field," explained Thomas. "When we saw the ability to bring in Chris, I knew Chris from time in the Barbarians. I worked with him that week and what I saw there was a good person and a good professional.
"Everyone knows his ability as a try-scorer. He is a prolific try-scorer, so we just felt that he could add value to us as a club. It's always a challenge to bring quality in at this time of the year so it was a really good bit of business for us and for Chris.
"Chris is a very motivated individual. He is a winner and he has got his eye on that try-scoring record as well. It gives him the opportunity to fulfil that ambition. As soon as you spend any time chatting with Chris, he is an infectious person and you just know straight away he wants to play. He's competitive so here is no doubts about his commitment to the team."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
3
Let's be real about these All Blacks
4
Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand
5
Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to comments