England wing Chris Ashton has received a 10-week ban for an eye-gouging incident.

Ashton was cited by match commissioner Yves Thieffine for making contact with the eye(s) and/or eye area of Ulster centre Luke Marshall in last Saturday's European Champions Cup round five match, and on Wednesday a lengthy suspension was handed down.

In upholding the citing, judicial officer Jean-Noel Couraud found that Ashton had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card.

He determined that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected 12 weeks as the appropriate entry point.

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