Chris Ashton attacked in London nightclub.

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While on a post match night out with team mates and partners last night, Chris Ashton was attacked by a man who struck him with a beer glass. Ashton was not seriously hurt and did not require stitches to several minor cuts. He is said to have been a wholly innocent victim.

He was apparently in conversation with two men who he did not know, when one of them attacked him. Ashton was said to be shocked and mortified by the incident. It is well known that Stuart Lancaster has laid down a firm disciplinary code and Ashton is concerned how the incident may be viewed by England's head coach.

Now Sarries are the nearest team to me and they have a great reputation for their work in the local community and the players themselves ensure that high standards of behaviour are observed off the pitch. I hope this incident doesn't harm Ashton's England place, and by the sound of it he did nothing wrong.

Source - The Sunday Telegraph.

Was Andy Powell seen driving from the scene in a golf cart?

But seriously, given the fact that everyone has camera phones now and the premium that Ashton has clearly placed on his rejuvenation at Sarries, I cannot believe that he'd be daft enough to prejudice that by starting a bar brawl.

What a similar accusation aimed at Max Evans in the past year showed (and the Evans case was thrown out by a judge and jury in about half an hour) is that there is sadly still a veritable clown-car of imebriated toe-rags who think that starting a fight with a large, famous professional athlete is something that their mates/potential bedroom conquests will find awe-inspiring.

Which is more likely? A 16 stone professional athlete needed to assert his masculinity by lamping a ned? Or that Ashton was concerned (as Max Evans was) for the safety of the people he was with and ended up having to defend himself (and potentially others he was with).

As Maes says, we don't know. But I know which my money is on now that I've read the Sarries release.