Hull FC forward Jack Ashworth looks to have played his last game for the club after being handed a huge seven-match ban for his shot on Mikey Lewis.
Ashworth was one of five players appearing in front of the disciplinary appeals panel tonight after being handed a Grade E charge for Striking, following his swinging elbow to the head of Lewis.
It was an incident that was missed by the referee, but it was quickly picked upon with the Match Review Panel deeming it a Grade E charge, the highest that an offence can be judged.
As such, the Hull FC forward was sent to tonight’s Operational Rules Tribunal where a hefty ban was expected and that has now been confirmed, with the RFL announcing the Ashworth will serve a seven-match ban.
Off-contract at the end of the year and with just two games of the regular season and a maximum of three play-off games available, it means Ashworth likely won’t play for Hull FC again unless he gets a new deal.
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Hull FC forward handed huge ban
That’s not likely though as the forward has been linked with Castleford Tigers by Love Rugby League so if that comes through, or if he doesn’t earn a new contract with the Black and Whites, then it means his last game was Sunday’s derby defeat to Hull KR.
Ashworth entered a guilty plea at the Operational Rules Tribunal but he was still handed a huge 40 penalty points and a seven-game ban. Once he serves that ban, half of those points will be reduced but he will then walk a disciplinary tightrope all season after that.
With Ashworth’s ban now confirmed, it means that Hull FC will be without four players through suspension for Saturday’s must-win game against Warrington Wolves.
They’ve since recalled Denive Balmforth and Hugo Salabio from their loan deals but John Cartwright will find it tough to name a competitive 17 given how many players he is missing, via either suspensions or injuries.
The Black and Whites need to better Wakefield’s results to make the top six and their play-off hopes were discussed on the new Serious About Rugby League Show, available to watch via our YouTube channel.
john weldrick
September 10, 2025 at 11:59 am
Absolute nonsense of a ruling , the incident should have been dismissed by the disciplinary panel, Ashworth was already judged and found guilty by the sports media , he was deemed guilty before he was charged with anything, that makes the process void.