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Steffon Armitage on the move and England international set to join him in France
By Liam Heagney
One of the most talked about England players who didn’t get selected for the 2015 World Cup could be on the move in the French Top 14 next summer.
Steffon Armitage was a hot topic in the lead-up to last finals where pool stage elimination cost Stuart Lancaster and his assistants their jobs as England management.
Many felt the flanker, equipped with enviable ball-stealing skills at the breakdown, should have been included in the World Cup squad even though at the time he was playing his club rugby for three-in-a-row European champions Toulon.
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Lancaster refused to amend the RFU’s no-overseas players selection policy and although he went on to lose his job in December 2015, the snub resulted in Armitage opting to continue his career in France when his contract next came up for renewal.
He swapped Toulon for Pau in summer 2016. However, with Simon Mannix’s team now struggling in the Top 14, Armitage has apparently held talks about the possibility of moving to Bordeaux.
The 32-year-old, who made his comeback in November following a serious Achilles injury in a Challenge Cup semi-final loss at Cardiff last April, is reported to have met with incoming Bordeaux boss Christophe Urios, the current Castres coach.
Meanwhile Kieran Brookes, one of the players included in Lancaster’s ill-fated 2015 England squad, could join Armitage on the Top 14 scene.
The former Northampton tighthead’s CV had recently been doing the rounds among a number of French top flight clubs. He joined Wasps at the beginning of the season after 73 appearances for the Saints.
Brookes, who has 16 England caps to his name, is rated as the 13th best tighthead in the Premiership according to the RugbyPass Index, with an RPI of 69.
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Latest Comments
Hard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
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