"Ashton Splash" - Top 5 Chris Ashton Scores As Winger Breaks 100 Premiership Tries

Chris Ashton splashed his way into the Premiership Rugby record books this past weekend, as his hat-trick of tries against Exeter Chiefs took the winger past the previously unbreakable 100 try milestone.

Ashton scored his 99th, 100th and 101st Premiership try in Leicester's 62-19 landslide win, and became the first player in Premiership rugby history to score a centurion of tries. The timing could not have been more poetic for Ashton, as the 36-year-old had announced his intentions to retire from rugby come the end of the season.

Ashton is considered to be arguably the best try-scorer of his generation, having scored a total of 164 tries in all club competitions, and a further 20 tries for England; wherever Ashton went, he was able to find the try-line. His decorated career saw Ashton make a cross code change from Rugby League, as the Northerner enjoyed a three-year stint with Wigan Warriors in the Super League from 2005 to 2007.

He jumped ship to Rugby Union ahead of the 2007/08 National Division One season, and helped Northampton Saints re-claim their place in the Premiership with an astounding 39 tries in 25 games. After winning the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and European Challenge Cup with Saints, Ashton looked for pastures new, and joined Saracens in 2012. Ashton won the Premiership and Champions Cup twice each with Sarries, before he made the move overseas and signed for Toulon in 2016.

Yet Ashton's heart remained in the Premiership, and was back before too long, with his move to Sale Sharks in 2018. Ashton then moved on to Harlequins, Worcester Warriors and finally Leicester Tigers, with whom he broke the illustrious try-scoring record. So out of the 184 professional rugby union tries to pick from, here are five of Ashton's best.

England are defending for their lives. Trying to keep hold of a narrow lead, the Wallabies have England pinned back on their own try-line. But the ball breaks free, and Chris Ashton pins back his ears and thinks "I'll do it myself."

One of the all-time great counter-attack tries, and one of the most memorable scores ever at Twickenham Stadium, Ashton starts of his top 5 list with a certifiable cracker.

An amazing solo effort, Ashton explodes along the right wing, and cuts inside to take on the Australian fullback. He evades him with ease, and points to the Twickenham crowd before diving under the posts. Phenomenal.

This was the best remembered try, from a monumental day for England. Stuart Lancasters side defeated the reigning World Champions in a blistering performance at Twickenham Stadium. This match was certainly one for the history books, as England beat the All Blacks for the first time in nine years, with Ashton's try being the crown jewel in a 38-21 victory.

As a bulldozing Manu Tuilagi is put through on a hard-line, the centre brushes off three tackle attempts from New Zealand, with Dan Carter in particular sent crashing down to the turf. Tuilagi took the ball high to the line, and timed the pass perfectly, so Ashton could run in to a deafening Twickenham crowd, and perform one of his iconic 'Ashton splashes'.

This second half try set the tempo for the remainder of the match, as England tightened their grip on a stunned All Blacks side. Fresh off winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Reid and co were left speechless at England's performance back in 2012.

3. Saracens v Ulster, Heineken European Cup Quarter Finals 2013

Ashton at his best at club level here, with a superb solo effort to book Saracens their place in the 2013 Heineken European Cup semi-final. With 18 minutes left of this tightly-contest encounter with Ulster, Ashton took charge and made an emphatic line-break from 35 metres out.

The Sarries star then throws a dummy-step, and evades the pressure from Ulster's last line of defence. Ashton wheels away on a wide arching run, backing himself with every step, and once again performing his iconic swallow dive in the corner, as the Saracens fans in attendance erupted to the score.

"It's time now to go and win it, Ashton going on the outisde... Chris Ashton is about to win it!" outstanding commentary to accompany the score, from what was a match-winning performance from the flying winger.

This is not necessarily Ashton's most picturesque try, but it's significance held no bounds for England. Three points down with three minutes left, England were about to hand a memorable win to their old enemies of Scotland, at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The match had been a grid-locked kicking contest, with neither side able to make a breakthrough over the opposition's try-line. Then up stepped Chris Ashton, a relative newcomer to the England squad who showed no signs of nerves. After a Tuilagi collision halts England's momentum from 7m out, the ball is sent wide, as Toby Flood loops the ball out to Ashton, who goes over in the corner.

Despite taking place on the other side of the world, there was an immense roar from the England faithful who had made the pilgrimage to New Zealand's Eden Park. The match was won, and England finished top of Group B, for a memorable win at the home of the All Blacks.

Running in from 70m out, Chris Ashton nearly set the rugby-proofed pitch at Wembley Stadium on fire with this try. Taking on Harlequins in a Premiership London derby, the ball is sent into the air from a loosely tapped pass by a Harlequins player.

Ashton reacts fastest to intercept the ariel ball, and instantly ignites the afterburners to get away from the trailing Quins defenders. Three Harlequins players try to chase down the winger, but accept defeat as once again Ashton performs his signature move under the posts.

Wembley stadium was used to players diving, but this was one effort that the football pitch hadn't seen before.