Chris Ashton could face up to a year ban after Saracens wing cited for two allegations of biting Alex Waller

Ashton faces a hearing on Tuesday night after he was cited for two separate allegations of biting the Northampton Saints prop

Chris Ashton faces up to a year ban if he is found guilty of two separate biting charges (Getty)

Saracens winger Chris Ashton could face a lengthy ban after being charged by the Rugby Football Union with two acts of biting.

The 29-year-old, capped 39 times by England, is alleged to have bitten Northampton prop Alex Waller during Saturday's 27-12 Aviva Premiership victory, and will appear before a disciplinary panel in London on Tuesday, the RFU said in a statement on Monday.

The two incidents occurred in the 24th and 25th minutes of the clash at Allianz Park, with Ashton's mouth appearing to make contact with Waller's hand during a tangle on the floor.

The RFU's recommended sanctions state that the minimum ban for biting is 12 weeks for a low-end offence, up to an entry point of 24 weeks for a top-end offence - with a maximum suspension of 208 weeks.

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

"He (Waller) just repeated what he said to the referee (Greg Garner), in that he had been bitten on the hand," Mallinder said.


 Ashton missed this year's Six Nations through a suspension for eye gouging (Getty)
 (Getty Images)

Also asked about it during his post-match press conference, Saracens boss Mark McCall added: "I have heard the accusation.

"I haven't seen the incident. These things will run (their) course. I suppose there is a good chance that Chris will be cited as a result, so we will see what happens."

Ashton received a 10-week ban last season for making contact with the eye area of Ulster back Luke Marshall during a European Champions Cup game, although he protested his innocence throughout.

If the biting charge is proved, another long lay-off would be another blow to his England chances.

Ashton was ruled out of this year's RBS Six Nations because of suspension and was left out of the 2015 World Cup squad on home soil. His last England appearance came back in the summer of 2014, against New Zealand.

PA