The 36-year-old spent time at Northampton Saints, Saracens, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks, Harlequins, Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers during his illustrious 18-year career in which he scored 41 tries in EPCR's premier club competition.

In addition to his two winners’ medals, Ashton was a beaten finalist with Northampton in 2011 and Saracens in 2014. He then lifted the title with Sarries in back-to-back finals in 2016 and 2017. He was also on the books of Northampton when they won the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2009.

Further to his success in Europe, he ends his career as the leading try scorer in the Gallagher Premiership (98) and has three domestic titles on his resumé.

“I still can’t believe all that I have been able to do and all that rugby union has given me,” expressed Ashton.

“This game has opened the world to me, taken me to places I never thought I would have been or experienced, and I am so grateful for that.”

Ashton made his Heineken Champions Cup debut against Munster Rugby in 2009 for Northampton – notching two tries in the contest. He would go on to play in the 2011 final for the Saints against Leinster Rugby.

Adept at full-back and on the wing, Ashton moved to Saracens in 2012. Another final defeat against Toulon followed in 2014 before back-to-back successes in 2016 against Racing 92 and 2017 against ASM Clermont Auvergne where he scored the opening try of the contest.

In total, Ashton appeared in 82 EPCR matches (70 in the Heineken Champions Cup) and scored 56 tries. Internationally, Ashton represented England on 44 occasions, scoring 20 tries. He also represented England as a rugby league player.

Two-time Heineken Champions Cup winner and the competition’s all-time leading try scorer Chris Ashton has announced that he will retire from from professional rugby at the end of the season.