JUST retired Chris Ashton is Premiership Rugby’s top try scorer, but he’s a family man off the pitch.
The top scorer has been married for nine years. Here’s what we know about his wife, Melissa.
GettyChris Ashton of Leicester Tigers celebrates with his Player of the Match award following a match with Exeter Chiefs on April 16, 2023 in Leicester, England.[/caption]
Who is Chris Ashton’s wife Melissa?
After six years of dating, Chris Ashton went down on one knee and proposed to girlfriend Melissa in New York in early 2014.
The pair married later that year, on August 24, 2014.
Melissa Ashton, née Uzelac, has mixed Serbian and Irish heritage.
Her birthday is on January 28, and although her age is unknown, Chris is 36.
Melissa, who also goes by the nickname “Missy”, is a homemaker who used to work as a nanny.
Melissa posts about fashion and lifestyle on Instagram under the username @life_with_the_ashtons_ to her over 3,600 followers.
How many children does Chris Ashton have?
With his wife Melissa, Chris Ashton has two children, named Ava and Isaac.
Ava Grace, born on 23 August 2016, is seven years old and started in Year 3 this September, while Isaac Thomas was born on November 4, 2019.
Chris pulled out of the Rugby World Cup training squad ahead of the 2019 tournament in Japan to be with Melissa, then pregnant with their second child, and daughter Isaac.
He said at the time: “My wife, Melissa, is pregnant with our second child and I don’t feel it is right for me to commit to being away in camp at this stage.”
“Pulling on the white shirt is always special and I’m grateful to Eddie [Jones] for giving me the opportunity to have done so again,” Chris added.
The family of four went on holiday to Disney Land Paris in the 2023 school summer holidays, where they celebrated Ava’s seventh birthday.
When did Chris Ashton play for England?
Chris scored 20 tries and 44 England caps, but his Rugby career was not always plain sailing.
Chris made his England rugby league debut in 2006.
He later made his England Rugby Test debut in March 2010, including in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where Chris finished as the tournament’s joint-leading try-scorer.
Chris played regularly for England until 2014, before being dropped from the team.
After a four-year break, he was recalled to the England squad in 2018.
After being recalled, Chris said: “When you’re younger and you’re in the team, you never think it’s going to be your last game.
“You think you’re going to have good, long years at it, but that wasn’t the case for me.
“I definitely understand what it’s like to not be involved and not have the shirt, so it’s a big privilege to be back in. I’ve had a good few years of watching the Six Nations and watching England doing very well in it, if you take away last season, so it means a lot.”
Former England boss Eddie Jones has described the winger as being “as mad as a cut snake”, while skipper Owen Farrell claims he is “like a dog following a ball around, he never tires”.
What other teams did Chris Ashton play for?
Chris started his rugby league career at his hometown team Wigan Warriors, after coming up through Wigan’s scholarship programme, in 2003, playing for the U-18 team.
Making his senior team debut in 2005, Chris typically played as a fullback for Wigan, and occasionally on the wing.
Chris finished the 2006 season with 15 tries, making him the leading try scorer for Wigan.
In March 2007 Chris signed to play Rugby Union for Northampton Saints, where he stayed until 2012, when he moved to London club Saracen’s.
Chris has also played for Sale Sharks, Toulon, Harlequins, and Worcester Warriors.
Chris ended his career at the end of the 2022/2023 seasons, at Leicester Tigers.
At the Leicester Tigers, he was outspoken about scheduling issues in Premiership Rugby.
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