Bad boy Armitage faces fourth ban of the year after double citation

Cited: Delon Armitage (right) is accused of two offences

England’s fiery back Delon Armitage is facing a fourth ban of the year after being cited for two offences in the Aviva Premiership clash between London Irish and Bath.

Armitage faces a hearing on Tuesday after a dangerous tackle on Bath wing Tom Biggs and kneeing lock Dave Attwood. Such offences normally bring bans of two or three weeks but his poor record puts him in danger of a longer ban.

The 27-year-old received an eight-week ban for pushing a doping control officer after Irish’s New Year’s Day game against Bath. He served a three-week ban later in the season for striking Northampton fly-half Stephen Myler and then missed the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France for a high tackle on Scotland’s Chris Paterson.

Bad boy: Armitage has faced three bans already this year

Irish have dropped him for Saturday’s Premiership clash at Leicester.

Another England player in the firing line is Northampton wing Chris Ashton, who makes his 100th club appearance on Saturday at Wasps.

Despite a record of almost a try a game, it has not stopped head coach Jim Mallinder warning him he is not indispensable.

He said: ‘We’ve got competition and players like Scott Armstrong, Paul Diggin and Jamie Elliott are all eager for Chris’s spot.’

Ashton’s contract is up at the end of the season but Northampton have yet to announce a new deal. ‘It’s an ongoing process,’ said Mallinder.

Gloucester’s Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu faces a hearing on Monday to answer a disrepute charge following his alleged Twitter rant on Saracens’ Owen Farrell. Farrell is also facing disciplinary action following last Saturday’s match between Gloucester and Saracens. The England Under 20 fly-half is one of three cited for dangerous tackles. He will be joined at a hearing on Tuesday by Gloucester forwards Darren Dawidiuk and Nick Wood. 

Sale’s Wales No 8 Andy Powell and Worcester wing Miles Benjamin have also been cited for dangerous tackles last weekend.

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