Steffon Armitage set to end his England exile.
Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage could be set to end his England exile with a surprise return to the Premiership to make himself available for the national team ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
The 29-year-old has five England caps but has been overlooked by coach Stuart Lancaster since moving to France in 2011 due to Rugby Football Union rules that say overseas-based players will be selected only in extraordinary circumstances.
But British media reported on Tuesday that talks are taking place between leading Premiership clubs and Toulon about signing Armitage.
“The season’s begun. We have to be quick if he wants to change,” Toulon coach Bernard Laporte told the BBC.
Armitage, who was voted European player of the year last season, signed a three-year contract extension with European champions Toulon in 2013.
“He has a contract (with Toulon), but if the England coach says if he plays for Bath or for Saracens then he will play in the World Cup, I think he has to play for these clubs,” he said.
Armitage, whose brother Delon also plays for Toulon, emerged as a target for the French selectors after a change in International Rugby Board (IRB) eligibility.
A move back to England’s Premiership would represent a coup for Lancaster, bringing back an important player ahead of next year’s tournament and warding off interest from a major rival.
Armitage, a dynamic runner and skilful operator at the breakdown, would compete for the England openside flanker position with captain Chris Robshaw and give Lancaster more strength in depth in a crucial position.
Toulon host Scarlets in the European Rugby Champions Cup on Sunday and if Armitage plays he would be ineligible to represent another club in the tournament.
Dallaglio calls on England to set tone ahead of World Cup
Lawrence Dallaglio has called on England to set the tone ahead of the 2015 World Cup by defeating some of their main rivals for the trophy in the upcoming international series.
Stuart Lancaster’s side host New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia in next month’s Tests in the next phase of their build-up before hosting the World Cup.
Former England captain Dallaglio believes winning as many matches as possible at Twickenham, the venue for all but one of their games at the tournament, between now and the Group A opener against Fiji is imperative.
And with the Springboks the only team Lancaster’s England have yet to defeat, Dallaglio views them as the prized scalp.
“England need to beat South Africa,” Dallaglio said on Monday. “The last time they played them at Twickenham in 2012 they were properly beaten up, but this England side is much stronger now.
“Going into the World Cup you want to make sure you can beat every side, which makes that fixture fascinating.
“To win a World Cup you probably have to play and beat two of the southern hemisphere sides.
“If England came away with two out of three southern hemisphere victories, that would show they are genuine World Cup contenders.
“Of course it would be lovely if we were Six Nations champions next year, but I’d be more concerned if they were losing at Twickenham. “If England win every game at Twickenham they’ll win the World Cup. That’s what home advantage gives you. Reconfirming that less than a year away would be good “