But the 22-year-old initially struggled in the top flight and says the experience put doubts in his head about where his rugby future lay.

He said: “I expected to hit the ground running but that didn't happen.

“It shocked me a bit and knocked me back. At one point I was quite serious about moving back to rugby league.”

Ashton scored 39 tries in his debut season at Franklin's Gardens – when Saints were in National One - but then found himself sidelined as Northampton coach Paul Grayson looked to give the winger time to find his Guinness Premiership feet.

But despite his sensational form this season - 19 tries in 25 matches - Ashton revealed Saturday’s debut seemed a long way off when he first made the cross-code switch.

“I didn't think I would get this chance,” said Ashton, who will replace the injured Harlequins winger Ugo Monye at the Stade de France.

“Grayson always said ‘stick with it, your chance will come’. “Thinking back to it now, it probably couldn't have worked out any better for me. I had the time to actually figure out this rugby union game and make it work.”