Armitage in Eng World Cup frame?

 

There has been much speculation about last year's European player of the year turning his back on his home nation to get a French passport in order to play for France.

 

However after a quote from Toulon's head coach Bernard Laporte, stating that Armitage should leave France if he was assured a place in England's squad, there has been speculation that the flank may join Bath or Saracens.

 

Armitage penned a three-year contract extension with Toulon only last November, however Laporte did not ruled out the possibility of such a move.

 

"He has a contract but, if the England coach says if he plays for Bath or Saracens then he will play in the World Cup, I think he has to play for these clubs," Laporte told the BBC.

 

Bath are spending up to the salary cap but Premiership Rugby regulations allow them to spend an additional £400,000 on like-for-like replacements for those sidelined.

 

Leicester have already used that allowance to bring in Brad Thorn.

 

With Carl Fearns, Matt Garvey and Francois Louw sidelined in Bath's loose forward department, they would be permitted to sign an additional flank.

 

Five-times capped Armitage, has not been picked by England coach Stuart Lancaster because he plays his club rugby in France.

 

It was made clear to Armitage in discussions with Lancaster that England were not prepared to make an exception to their policy of not picking any players based abroad.

 

That led to Armitage exploring other options which have included him investigating getting a French passport to allow him to qualify for France.