Ashton to appeal eye-gouge ban

London - Chris Ashton is to appeal the 10-week suspension which will rule him out of England's Six Nations campaign.

Ashton's club Saracens confirmed the wing will appeal the level of the sanction that was imposed last week for making contact with the eyes of Ulster's Luke Marshall in a European Champions Cup game.

The 28-year-old Ashton pleaded not guilty at a hearing on January 20.

If the ban is upheld, Ashton will miss the Six Nations, which runs from February 6 to March 19.