Premiership clubs chasing Armitage

Being reported on Planet rugby.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9515605,00.html

Sarries, Coventry, Quins and Bath are in the running to sign him.

So it looks like he doesn't want to play for France after all.

well from what I read earlier, they were mentionning that the RFU wanted Toulon to loan him to an English club till the end of the season. In the same article, Boudjellal comment was that he doesnt do loan and hasnt got any request from the player anyway

Do any of these 4 clubs really need him?

Quins have Robshaw and Wallace. Sarries have Burger and Fraser.

Coventry.... perhaps...

Bath are well stocked in the backrow.

I guess the best bet is Wasps' starting 7 shirt - only realistic option though they don't have the financial backing of Bath or Sarries.

Isn't their club captain Haskell currently the starting 7? None of those clubs make much sense to be honest...

sirburger I thought Haskell was a 6. Fair enough if Haskell is indeed starting 7. I could still see Wasps being the easiest club to accommodate him.

One problem with S.Armitage is he does lack versatility in the backrow.

whocares wrote:well from what I read earlier, they were mentionning that the RFU wanted Toulon to loan him to an English club till the end of the season. In the same article, Boudjellal comment was that he doesnt do loan and hasnt got any request from the player anyway

RFU getting involved in club bizz. Someone is going to be pizzed.

Beshocked, I don't think we (Wasps) would accommodate him. Ashley Johnson and Hask are our first choice flankers and up there with the best in the league.

beshocked wrote:
One problem with S.Armitage is he does lack versatility in the backrow.

really? Toulon even played him at 8 with some success.

regarding Wasps finances - Dai Young recently,

"Now possessing the financial clout to attract top players, Young is in search of the marquee signings that will lure supporters to their new 32,000 capacity home.

"I'm shopping in Marks & Spencer now when I have been in Lidl for three years. It is a different shop," Young said.

"I am looking at a different market, different players. It is really exciting to think of the players.

"We know that the stadium will take a bit of filling and that will take a lot of hard work.

"It's my task to try and attract three or four big-name players that can excite the local rugby followers and attract new supporters. (Wasps owner) Derek (Richardson) is 100 per cent behind that.

"A couple of the players I want wear black! We want to get the best players in."

"A couple of the players I want wear black! We want to get the best players in.".

Hey they can keep their filthy little mits of our players!!!!

I've got to be honest I'm not comfortable if he gets selected for England if he is only on a loan deal until the 2015 rwc.

bigtrevsbigmac fair enough if you feel that way.

There are quite a few teams that wear black.

Saracens
Exeter
Newcastle

Ospreys
Edinburgh


Toulouse
Toulon

All Blacks

Probably quite a few I missed but these ones I can think of.

Coventry are a club in their own right Coventry Wasps please. Took me a second to to work out what was going on.

Quins would love him, he'd be the ball carrying back rower they need and not detract from their stealing ways.

Wasps well imagine him rotating with Hughes, Haskell and Johnson. That's a load of power. They may well be prioritising other positions though.

Bath have ample options. Can't see them changing unless they have grown weary of Fearns being a perennial sick note and want a big back row option to replace him.

Sarries I can't see unless Burger is having to retire with his knee troubles.

Tigers I'm surprised aren't mentioned. With Matera likely to head to whatever new team Argentina enter in the Super 15 and Tigers probably not best pleased with his injury record from Argentina games that could maybe happen if Steffon was willing to take a pay cut.

LI have more funds these days with their I rush backers and it would be a popular signing with their fans.

Did Wasps win the Euro Lotto?

New House, new garden and still loadsa new money to buy the All Blacks out of their contract with New Zealand!!!!!

Some serious dosh bein' splashed about.

Exeter currently have Ben White and Don Armand at 7, both excellent but in the same breath I'd say that Armitage is a class above, he went to School in Devon as well!

One thing for sure is that Rob Baxter wouldn't dream of looking at him unless there is 100% commitment from the player into the Chiefs say oh life!

No show ponys allowed South of Bristol!

Exeter would be the best fit for Armitage in my opinion.

I would love him back at Irish, but to be honest I am happy with Cowan and Treviranus (especially Cowan) as our flankers and reckon if we are going to be forking out that sort of cash there are other areas that are in more need.

SecretFly wrote:Did Wasps win the Euro Lotto?

New House, new garden and still loadsa new money to buy the All Blacks out of their contract with New Zealand!!!!!

Some serious dosh bein' splashed about.

You've got to suspect it's a case of them hoping to build a new fan base by bringing in big names. I'd guess that they're splashing cash they don't yet have.

Incidentally, players who wear black could include Wasps themselves. Perhaps they'll be promoting a load of academy players?

Wasps are moving to the Ricoh because it will save them from the three million a year they are losing at the minute. It's supposedly the business model to breath financial life back in to the club so you'd imagine there may be a few more quid to spend on players.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11160310/Steffon-Armitage-on-verge-of-making-a-sensational-return-Premiership-to-boost-England-ahead-of-Rugby-World-Cup.html

Looks like it's Bath time

whocares wrote:well from what I read earlier, they were mentionning that the RFU wanted Toulon to loan him to an English club till the end of the season. In the same article, Boudjellal comment was that he doesnt do loan and hasnt got any request from the player anyway

Looks like a bad source Whocares as Laporte agrees with loan & see Telegraph link.

"It is understood that the RFU has played no role in the move to bring Armitage back to England and if the transfer goes ahead, is likely to come too soon for him to be named in the elite player squad, which will be announced on Oct 22 ahead of the QBE Series in November."

My main question is how would Bath have enough space under the cap to be able to squeeze him in? Also, when he left Irish it wasn't on good terms with Toby Booth, so it would take either a massive change in that relationship for him to go to Bath, or he is just going to suck it up for the sake of potentially earning a world cup spot.

Could be injury dispensation for Bath. They got any long term injuries in the back row?

Louw is out until December.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:regarding Wasps finances - Dai Young recently,
"I'm shopping in Marks & Spencer now when I have been in Lidl for three years. It is a different shop," Young said.

Try shopping Selfridges.

Does it have to be a Jeff club? I would imagine all Stuart Lancaster wants is the ability to see SA every week and attend a few of those games himself.

The solution is simple - sign for this year's Pro 12 Champions - Glasgow.

Seriously, we need a good openside as it's our (relatively) weakest position. Pay attention, Gregor Townsend.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Could be injury dispensation for Bath. They got any long term injuries in the back row?

Fearns, Louw, Garvey and now Alfie. And we've just let Gilbert go which releases a tiny bit. I'd assume RFU would be involved as well?

There's an addition to the cap for injury dispensation. Bath could accommodate him using that. The RFU wouldn't subsidise the move as it would show favouritism.

I know Louw had neck surgery, but maybe Garvey or Fearns' injuries are worst than thought? Unless its as a injury replacement I can't see how we could afford him. If he is injury cover, then presumably we would have to cull someone else if we wanted him for next season, or maybe the cap increase would cover that?

I'm also slightly confused as to why Toulon would let him go, unless its some sort of gentlemans agreement to let him have a go at the WC and then come back.

formerly known as Sam wrote:There's an addition to the cap for injury dispensation. Bath could accommodate him using that. The RFU wouldn't subsidise the move as it would show favouritism.

Prety sure they subsidised the Burgess move, but yeah I take your point

It was rumoured they would help the Burgess move along but I think a few AP clubs said they'd happily take Burgess if the RFU was footing the bill so the RFU quickly distanced themselves from the deal. Well that was the impression I got.

As I understand it Armitage is only after a loan move for this season so he can make the RWC and then will head back to France.

I'm pretty sure the RFU put no cash into the Burgess deal as some clubs complained ( which is fair enough I think).

Is he fit enough for Baths style of play?

He often looks like a prop but ends up covering a lot of ground. Waldrom is similar in that regard. He's certainly not looked out of place alongside Fernández Lobbe and he's always a beast.

TightHEAD wrote:Is he fit enough for Baths style of play?

surely you are being ironic TH

seen games where he was tackling, then back on his feet, then fetching the ball, passing it like a 9, running 30m, getting the ball and scoring a try.

regarding this so called loan, the telegraph mentions there would be a transfer fee attached to it as Boudjellall doesnt do free loans.
his long term plan would be to get McCaw after the RWC so it would make sense to dispose of Armitage at some point.

Bathite wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:There's an addition to the cap for injury dispensation. Bath could accommodate him using that. The RFU wouldn't subsidise the move as it would show favouritism.

Prety sure they subsidised the Burgess move, but yeah I take your point

RFU had no hand in the Burgess deal, it was all Mike Ford. Only once it was announced did Lancaster speak to Burgess.

At 7, Bath's options are limited - Louw is key when available (SA/injuries permitting), but I'm not sure Guy Mercer is progressing like we hoped. We have a plethora of 6/8 options in Fearns/Garvey/Houston/Faosaliva (sp), but light on 7s.

Frak me this is getting silly now, how can you have fair competition if a team can lose one Int player and then happily go buy another? Meanwhile other clubs are dredging their academies for replacements.

yappysnap wrote:Frak me this is getting silly now, how can you have fair competition if a team can lose one Int player and then happily go buy another? Meanwhile other clubs are dredging their academies for replacements.

Since when has Pro sport been fair?

True true.

To be honest I'm just more aggrieved that it's not my club doing this...

whocares wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Is he fit enough for Baths style of play?

surely you are being ironic TH

seen games where he was tackling, then back on his feet, then fetching the ball, passing it like a 9, running 30m, getting the ball and scoring a try.

regarding this so called loan, the telegraph mentions there would be a transfer fee attached to it as Boudjellall doesnt do free loans.
his long term plan would be to get McCaw after the RWC so it would make sense to dispose of Armitage at some point.

Surely even if he did get Mccaw he couldn't expect too much game time from him, the guy is injured often.

It would be great if he came back as we can finally dispel the myth that's he's a world beater.

Spot on Sgt...we'll see once and for all if he is what everyone thinks.

I still say id prefer to stick with Robshaw...and focus on bringing through Kvesic or particularly Will Fraser.

Of course theres always Harry Bate ey Sgt

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It would be great if he came back as we can finally dispel the myth that's he's a world beater.

Bit harsh Sgt, I think he is now twice the player he was before he left these shores. (I don't mean his size! )

The hype surrounding him annoys me tbh TH, at least we'd get to see him against his peers playing at a pretty level field.

I personally think he's hugely overhyped, he a good 7 and would be there or there abouts in an England squad, but he's not the saviour.

I don't think anyone has said that he is the saviour, just that his form warrants selection. You can't argue with his form, as it's been there for all to see, he has been consistently top class for Toulon for the past two seasons. In terms of him vs. Robshaw, they are different players with very different skill sets, and ultimately it will come down to what Lancaster wants from his 7, and the balance of the back row.

As an aside, the form EQ 7 at present is Haskell, and if Lancaster is selecting on form, then he really ought to be starting for England.

IF Armitage does come in as your fetcher style 7...then it means Launchbury will stay at lock and who then do you pick as 6. Its out of Robshaw and Wood as Lancaster will want to keep the workrate style.

I think Wood is a better player than Robshaw, so in that scenario would pick Wood. Robshaw on present form would not make my matchday 23 for England.

I'm pretty sceptical of his form tbh Oz. He plays a roaming style for Toulon and he's good at it.

No England side could afford to give him this type of role as it relies on front 5 dominance, we rarely achieve such a thing.

My opinion is he's a good player made to look better in a fantastic team. We'd only see if he's actually improved by going to a side like Quins or Wasps.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I think Wood is a better player than Robshaw, so in that scenario would pick Wood.  Robshaw on present form would not make my matchday 23 for England.  

I've seen nothing to suggest Armitage is better than Robshaw tbh. Robshaw has grown at Int level and is a fantastic player. Armitage is pretty untested at that level.

Seems like the Bath move is now off, after being almighty close to going through