Armitage gets eight-week ban

England full-back Delon Armitage will miss most of the Six Nations after being banned for eight weeks this week. The 27-year-old London Irish player appeared before a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing for allegedly pushing an anti-doping...

England full-back Delon Armitage will miss most of the Six Nations after being banned for eight weeks this week.

The 27-year-old London Irish player appeared before a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing for allegedly pushing an anti-doping officer after his team’s game against Bath on New Year’s Day.

His ban ends on March 16, three days before England’s concluding Six Nations match against Ireland.

The RFU charged Armitage with “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport” following the incident.

Trinidad-born Armitage, who returned a negative test, has won 19 England caps and had been named in Martin Johnson’s squad for the Six Nations although he had lost his place in the starting line-up to Ben Foden last season.

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