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Video - Horrific injury 'ends season' for Delon Armitage after just 64 minutes

Delon Armitage's season is almost certainly over

The worst fears of Lyon coach Pierre Mignoni were confirmed on Monday after medical tests revealed that fullback Delon Armitage’s season is almost certainly over – after he had played just 64 minutes of the opening game of the season.

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The former England fullback – whose contract with Lyon is up for renewal at the end of the season –  will need surgery to fix anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered in the tackle from Toulouse halfback Zack Holmes. Reports in France say that the external ligament has been completely torn off.

Before he knew the full extent of his fullback’s injuries head coach Mignoni told reporters on Sunday: “It’s dramatic, because we all know Delon’s age. It was one of his last seasons and I hope the injury isn’t too serious. Unfortunately, this is not a good sign. For him and for us.”

The operation has  been scheduled for Friday. But initial estimates are that the 34-year-old Armitage will be out of action for 10 months, meaning what looked set to have been a crucial campaign for him is over almost before it began.

It is expected that Lyon will look to sign a medical joker as cover for the injured fullback.

The match at Lyon’s Matmut Stadium Gerland ended in a 16-16 draw, which put the sides level on points in equal seventh in the table after the opening round of the 2018/19 season.

The injury news gets worse for ambitious Lyon, who recruited heavily in the off season – bringing in Charlie Ngatai, Noa Nakaitaci, Loann Goujon, Raphaël Chaume, Jean-Marc Doussain and Jonathan Wisniewski to bolster their squad for a first Champions Cup campaign in their history.

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Captain Julien Puricelli also left the pitch on a stretcher four minutes from time – and will miss the next six to eight weeks of the season, after suffering a shoulder injury.

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J
JW 37 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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