Armitage calls on RFU to end exile of overseas players
STEFFON ARMITAGE will always be the one that got away.
And after an England exile which has seen him win just five caps, Armitage has urged the RFU to lift their ban on overseas players.
‘People have got to understand — a rugby career is quite short. You have got family, mortgages, things to pay for. If you can go somewhere, earn a bit more and become a better player, go for it.
‘I just don’t see how it’s right that you are stopping someone from becoming a better player,’ he said.
Back-rower Armitage, 31, has won three European Cups and was voted the best player on the continent among the galacticos of Toulon in 2014.
Yet he has not played for a country that could not find an openside for seven years as he lives abroad.
‘There are a few guys in that situation at the moment — Carl Fearns, Nick Abendanon, David Strettle, all those guys — if you look at where they are at the moment they are playing their best rugby against international players each week.
‘In France it is cutthroat. They have so much money that if you don’t perform they will just get rid of you and get someone else.
‘So in your head you think, “I have to perform or I’ll be out”.
‘You might have 50 caps but you’re not guaranteed anything.
‘You have to improve, you have got no choice.
‘Look at Jonny (Wilkinson). When he came to Toulon after all his injuries we thought he’d be a little bit (on the slide) but he played like he was 20 again.’
Armitage has the chance to grace Twickenham on the international stage once more. Today he plays for the Barbarians against England, but after all the gnashing of teeth over the years he remains philosophical.
‘I don’t have to prove anything to anyone — I am quite happy with how my career has gone. I might be getting a bit older but I’ve still got it and still have the want. I have achieved all the things I wanted to achieve already, so I am going to go out there, enjoy it and score three tries!’
Since Eddie Jones took charge of England there has been no contact. There was during Stuart Lancaster’s regime — moves to Bath and Wasps were close — but in the end he never was given the support he wanted from coaches.
Signing for three years at Pau last summer meant he sacrificed a chance to wear the rose again. He stands by the decision.
‘Playing in France I have improved every day, so I felt that was the place to be.’
‘There is a lot of stuff I have packed away in the garage. Hopefully one day my kids will open it up and think, “Hold on, dad is not just a bum who is sat on the sofa, he actually did something with his life!’