Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Armitage World Cup hopes hit by ban

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Delon Armitage has fallen from grace since initially establishing himself as Martin Johnson's first choice full-back in 2009 RBS 6 Nations

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Armitage World Cup hopes hit by ban

3 May 2011, 7:48 am

By Sportsbeat

England full-back Delon Armitage's World Cup hopes have been dealt a blow after he was banned for three weeks for striking Northampton's Stephen Myler.

The London Irish star missed the 2011 RBS Six Nations following an eight-week ban for abusing an anti-doping officer, and only returned on March 26.

But within a month, the 27-year-old found himself in hot water again following the Aviva Premiership clash on April 23 which saw him punch stand-off Myler after a tackle.

Armitage who made his Test debut in 2008, pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing in London on Tuesday.

Due to the fact London Irish cannot compete in the play-offs, the ban runs from May 4 to May 10 and then May 24 to June 6.

It means that Armitage is set to miss a number of important games for both club and country.

He will sit out London Irish’s final league fixture with Leicester this weekend, as well as England’s game with the Barbarians on May 29 which is likely to be used as testing ground by boss Martin Johnson ahead of the World Cup.

Armitage will be available for the warm-up game against Wales but faces an uphill struggle to wrest the No.15 shirt away from the Saints’ Ben Foden.