Chris Ashton: Saracens and England winger to face two biting charges

Chris Ashton was banned for 10 weeks last season for eye gouging

Saracens and England winger Chris Ashton is facing another lengthy ban after being charged with biting Northampton prop Alex Waller.

Ashton, 29, was banned for 10 weeks last season for gouging.

He has been charged with two acts of biting and will appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel on Tuesday.

Ashton is alleged to have bitten Waller twice during his side's 27-12 Premiership victory at Allianz Park.

The two incidents occurred in the 24th and 25th minutes of Saturday's game.

Ashton's mouth appeared to make contact with Waller's hand during a tangle on the floor.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder confirmed after the game that Waller said he had been bitten on the hand.

And speaking at his post-match news conference, Saracens boss Mark McCall added: "I have heard the accusation. I haven't seen the incident."

Ashton, capped 39 times by England, received his ban last season for making contact with the eye area of Ulster back Luke Marshall during a European Champions Cup game.

If the biting charge is proved and he receives another lengthy lay-off, it would be a setback to his prospects of an international recall in the season ahead.

Ashton was ruled out of this year's Six Nations because of suspension and was left out of the squad which toured Australia last summer.

His last England cap came in the summer of 2014, against New Zealand.