New Wasps signing Danny Cipriani is one of seven full-capped players selected for the Saxons' tour to South Africa.
They are part of a 27-man squad for two games against South Africa A after missing out on Eddie Jones' selection."The squad has a good mixture of experienced players and emerging talent," head coach Ali Hepher said.
Wasps wing Christian Wade, Gloucester's Matt Kvesic, Northampton's Luther Burrell and Kieran Brookes, and Bath's Dave Attwood and Semesa Rokoduguni are the other players with Test experience.
"It is an incredibly exciting opportunity for the players and management to prove themselves. The series is an important stepping stone towards international honours," Hepher added.
Ashton, 29, helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup and reach the Premiership final, but was omitted from the 32-man England squad that will play three Tests against the Wallabies next month.
He missed this year's Six Nations, which England won under new boss Jones, after being given a 10-week ban for making contact with the eyes of Ulster's Luke Marshall during a European Champions Cup game.
Jones feels Harlequins' Marland Yarde is a "better fit", and has said Ashton needs to "fix" certain parts of his game.
Ashton was given a place in the Saxons squad before he decided not to accept it.Monday's Saxons squad announcement came a day after Cipriani also failed to make Jones' selection.
The 28-year-old missed out to Saracens' Owen Farrell and Bath's George Ford for a place at the Rugby World Cup in the autumn under Stuart Lancaster.
But he took part in the England squad training session in Brighton last week, showing that Cipriani - one of six Wasps players in the Saxons squad - is still part of the long-term thinking.
With Saracens and Exeter players involved in Saturday's Premiership final, Jones needed to supplement his squad for Sunday's friendly against Wales at Twickenham.
Several of the Saxons squad - Attwood, Kvesic, Burrell, Wasps forward Tommy Taylor and Bath centre Oliver Devoto - will plug the gaps.
Exeter assistant coach Hepher will be assisted by Alan Dickens (Northampton Saints) and Andy Titterrell (Wasps) for the two games in Bloemfontein on 10 June and Outeniqua Park in George on 17 June.
