Steffon Armitage hits out at England over World Cup omission

Steffon Armitage has criticised England's players and hierarchy over his omission from the World Cup squad.

Toulon back-row Armitage, who many pundits argued should have been England's openside flanker at the World Cup, and Clermont full-back Nick Abendanon were left out of the squad because they play their club rugby in France.

RFU rules dictate they could only be selected in 'exceptional circumstances'. England decided the World Cup did not meet that threshold and some England players made it known they supported the RFU's position. 

World Cup finalists Australia, who dumped England out of the competition at Twickenham, had a similar policy but scrapped it last year allowing star players Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell to be selected.

European Player of the Year Abendanon labelled the England players' support of the RFU policy "pathetic" and, asked if he agreed, Armitage told rugbyworld.com: "Definitely.

"I know them, played against them, and to hear them say we'd be a distraction if selected was pretty insulting.

Citing Steffon

Would England have been better with Steffon Armitage?

"At the end of the day all we wanted to do was make the team better and I just think it was wrong for players to say what they did. We could have learnt from each other and created more rivalry for places."

Armitage, who was Abendanon's predecessor as European Player of the Year, said his move to southern France - where he grew up - was not about money.

"I've always done my talking on the pitch and not in the press. The coach has his view in not picking me so all I could do was keep playing rugby. I hoped I might get in but it didn't happen and I had to deal with it," he said.

"I took a risk coming to France because there was no guarantee when I arrived at Toulon I would be playing regularly. People talk about the money, but I put a lot on the line when I came here. I did so because I wanted to become a better player but it feels like I've been punished for doing that."

The former London Irish forward admits he is not sure if he wants to play for England in the future.

"It's a tough situation. What happened with England hit me hard. There was talk I'd be involved and all of a sudden that hope was taken away. I've always played rugby because I love it, but that really hurt.

"I'm getting the enjoyment back now at Toulon but as far as England goes at the moment I'm undecided. Right now my focus is on Toulon. I'm contracted to them until the end of next season and I love it here."