Steffon Armitage signs for Toulon

[TRF_Cymro]

London Irish and England flanker Steffon Armitage has become the latest player to sign for big-spending Toulon.

The 25-year-old, who grew up in the south of France, joins a growing enclave of international stars at the hugely ambitious Cote D'Azur club.

They already have the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Carl Hayman, Gavin Henson and Joe Van Niekerk on their books, and are in an ongoing process of strengthening their squad with further global stars.

Toulon, who lost to Perpignan in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals at the weekend, have already secured the signatures of Matt Giteau, Bakkies Botha, Alexis Palisson, Sébastien Tillous-Borde and Eifion Lewis-Roberts for next season.

They are further reported to be interested in signing Steffon's brother Delon, while Samoan winger David Brown was mention in today's French press as a possible replacement for Paul Sackey, who has been a disappointment this season is expected to leave in the summer.

Steffon's arrival will help cover the loss of George Smith, who is also leaving in the summer to take up a lucrative contract in Japan.

http://frenchrugbyclub.com/Top-14/Top-14-2010-11/Top-14-Transfers-Armitage-Toulon-001411.html​

 

[Teh Mite]

Don't be surprised if Delon properly goes of the rails now then.

A real bollock dropped by the NotNots here. Should have pulled out all the stops to keep him.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Blow losing George Smith, been good all season for them.

 

[SpanishBob]

Where is the limit fore this people?

Bakkies Botha, Matt Giteau, Alexis Palisson, Gavin Henson, Armitage...

I wonder how many frenche players will be on the pitch next year. I don't like this team and what represents, is like Real Madrid or Inter of Milan but in rugby world.

I also wonder if they will go on playing sleeping the ball, slow pick and go and hunting penalties with talents such as Wulf, Sackey, Giteau and Palisson.

Happy to see the formula failling this season, in Europe and France.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Like how they used a picture of Delon :lol:

Bet he wishes he hadn't got his handful of England caps now, could've tried for a French one


Good player, Steffon, will be a blow for Irish to lose him and Mapusua at the end of the season

 

[Melhor Time]

Where is the limit fore this people?

Bakkies Botha, Matt Giteau, Alexis Palisson, Gavin Henson, Armitage...

I wonder how many frenche players will be on the pitch next year. I don't like this team and what represents, is like Real Madrid or Inter of Milan but in rugby world.

I also wonder if they will go on playing sleeping the ball, slow pick and go and hunting penalties with talents such as Wulf, Sackey, Giteau and Palisson.

Happy to see the formula failling this season, in Europe and France.

Actually more French next year than this. No players from Toulon played in the Six Nations. But two certainties have been signed in Palisson and Sebastien Tillous-Bourde who will be there next year. The club also has a hooker who may well play for France soon in Jean Philippe Genevois.

I like Toulon. A team on the rise and packed with many different countries. Big game tommorrow to pack Marseilles´s 60,000 seater venue vs Toulouse. It wouldn´t happen without the imported players. The global game is the way it is thanks to clubs like Toulon buying players. Argentina are world class because of European clubs. The USA has its best ever team right now thanks to clubs like Biarritz and Saracens. Even Japan has come along way over the past 5 years. Romania has gone downhill as it has no pro rugby and playing number iat the top has plummeted in France where today many are in the third division or lower but two in the Top 14.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Steffon Armitage to stay at London Irish - Toby Booth

 

[Teh Mite]

No doubt Booth will publically behave like a c*** towards him (as usual) once the dust settles - Same as he's done towards any other player who's been ambitious enough to want to play for a better team then Reading.

 

[M Two One]

I believe it was in Rugby Rama's 2010 season preview there was a report that in 2012 French clubs will have to have a certain amount of French players on their squads, more particularly for their youth programs. I wouldn't be concerned about French clubs signing the best players. The new rules on the horizon mean that international rugby for the nation will not suffer and, if anything, it will thrive even more. It will push domestic players to become even better with the best competition in the world right on their doorstep.

 

[conker]

Where is the limit fore this people?

Happy to see the formula failling this season, in Europe and France.

Kicking out Munster, Ospreys and London Irish out of the H Cup, you call that a fail?


FAIL

 

[monkeypigeon]

Kicking out Munster, Ospreys and London Irish out of the H Cup, you call that a fail?


FAIL

I'm sure given he amount of big names and money in that team, both the players, staff and owners will have been hoping for a HC QF and no playoff place in T14.

That said, they should be alot better next year.

 

[DonBilly]

I'm sure given he amount of big names and money in that team, both the players, staff and owners will have been hoping for a HC QF and no playoff place in T14.

That said, they should be alot better next year.

Well I think for Toulon the priority number 1 remains the Brennus, the HC will be for the next years.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Steffon Armitage to leave London Irish for Toulon

 

[M Two One]

Well I think for Toulon the priority number 1 remains the Brennus, the HC will be for the next years.

For French clubs, the Brennus is always priority number one ... well, perhaps not for Toulouse anymore.