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Steffon Armitage is leaving France and continuing his career elsewhere

Steffon Armitage is leaving Pau for a stint in the MLR (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Another former England player is set to give Major League Rugby a try next season. Last capped in 2013, 33-year-old Ben Foden blazed a trail in the 2019 MLR, playing for the New York franchise, Rugby United. 

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Now, Steffon Armitage, another 33-year-old who was last capped in 2010, has decided a switch to San Diego Legion is in his best interests rather than a move down the ranks in France where he has been plying his trade for the past eight seasons. 

The back row, who enjoyed considerable success during his five seasons at Toulon, has just finished up his three-year stint at Pau and was on the look-out for another club.

It had been suggested he could move down a tier and take up an offer in Pro D2. However, he has instead opted to experience life on America’s west coast. “I’m excited to play in the fastest growing rugby competition in the world,” he said after the MLR franchise took to social media to announce his signing. 

“San Diego has a great team and a fantastic culture. I can’t wait to be part of the Legion with the hope of winning the MLR title in 2020.”

https://twitter.com/SDLegion/status/1148625402820214784

San Diego Legion started up in 2018 and is one of the MLR’s seven founding teams. Their coach Rob Hoadley said: “Steffon is a world-class player who has proven himself to be one of the greats in the European club game.

“We are incredibly excited to have him join San Diego Legion in 2020. His talent and leadership will be a perfect addition to the Legion organisation.” 

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Armitage, who will join his new club for the start of pre-season training this December, had signalled his intention to carry on playing back in April when Pau confirmed they would not be offering him an extension following an injury-hit time.  

“I want to continue. I am certainly 33 years old but I have come out of six months of rest. I rejuvenated. Physically, I feel ready to go on for at least two years.”

WATCH: The RugbyPass trailer for the Ben Foden MLR documentary that will be released this summer

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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