Delon Armitage to face Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing
England management, already taken aback by loss of 3 starting line forwards ahead of upcoming Six Nations 2011 opener in Cardiff against Wales after two weeks, have a fresh dispute with their full back.
The London Irish full back, Delon Armitage has to face a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel today, after being charged for willingly shoving a dope control officer. Delon Armitage could face a long-term ban and miss all of the Six Nations if the disciplinary
committee finds him guilty. He is accused of verbally abusing and deliberately pushing the officer at the New Year’s Day match against Bath.
Armitage consequently fulfilled the regular post match dope test, and it produced negative result. This new development might cost England another first choice player in a build up to Six Nations and it is becoming progressively more problematic. If the
charges are proved then he could be facing range of sanctions, including period of suspension or heavy fine.
Delon Anthony Armitage is an English rugby union player who plays at wing or full back for England and London Irish. He often plays at center and occasionally does kicking too. He has been nicknamed by his team mates as Chopsy, Ugly, Mr. Angry, Mr. Awful
Trim, D-Low and Del. He started his rugby from U19’s National Cup which he won and then went up to U21 squad. He made his international elite England debut in November 2008 against Pacific Islanders at fullback, replacing Matthew Tait. He surprisingly gave
man of the match performance in his first match.
He scored his first International point with a 45 meter drop kick goal against Australia. Delon Armitage and his brother Steffon Armitage, both were named in the starting 15 against Italy for the Six Nations 2009 opening match. His stepfather used to play
for Hatfield and encouraged his sons to flourish in this game and now all the four brothers are professional rugby players. Steffon and Guy both play for Irish and Armitage is the first ever native West Indian to be a rugby union player in England’s squad.
He has always been famous for his quick and rising temper, one of the reasons he plays rugby.
Mr. Angry is now in trouble after calling his doping control officer with obscene names and physically pushing him after his dope test turned out to be negative. The disciplinary committee of RFU that will be conducting the tribunal compromises of Peter
Budge, Robert Horner and Judge Jeff Blackett.
The charges on him are, “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or the game, contrary to rule 5.12 of the rules of the Rugby Football Union.”
After capping England 19 times, Armitage was now looking forward to cement his position in elite squad for the coming Rugby World Cup 2011 in September. The tables might turn for him if he misses on the complete season due to a long ban.
In a statement given by a RFU, the official said, “Armitage is alleged to have pushed and used threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards a doping control officer from UK Anti-Doping during a routine test immediately after the Aviva Premiership
game against Bath Rugby at the Madejski Stadium on January 1, 2011. The test was negative.”
Judge Jeff Blackett is one the few rugby personals who are working to restore the core values of the game, after the drug scandals at Bath and fake blood affair at Harlequins. The circumstances in this particular case are unique and disciplinary personals
have indicated that Armitage is in serious strife.
In theory, the physical abuse to match officials can cause a life ban and the minimum penalty is six months. If the judge considers he doping control officer to be in same category as a referee then Armitage is in severe trouble.
Although Neil Back, the Leicester’s flanker received a 6 month ban in 1996, when he pushed a referee. A similar ban would not only rule out the 27 year old full back, but also endanger his chances for World Cup. It turned out to be a bad start of 2011 for
London Irish as Seilala Mapusua has also confirmed his departure.
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