Mark Cueto says Steffon Armitage should not expect England call
Wednesday 7 January 2015 13:58, UK
Former England winger Mark Cueto will have no sympathy for Steffon Armitage if he does not make England’s World Cup squad.
Armitage, 29, currently plays his club rugby for Toulon in France and therefore has not been selected by Lancaster under the Rugby Football Union policy which does not allow for overseas players to represent England - except for in ‘exceptional circumstances.’
Armitage was named the 2013-14 ERC European Player of the Year and played a big part in last year’s Top 14 Championship and Heineken Cup triumphs where he claimed man of the match in the final against Saracens.
His performances at Toulon have led him to being recognised as one of the best flankers in the world this has sparked a debate surrounding England’s selection policy and use of the ‘exceptional’ clause.
However Lancaster has always been a supporter of the RFU overseas policy and on many occasions has stressed the importance of English players being at Aviva Premiership clubs and the benefits this will have on the development of the English game.
Sale Sharks star star Cueto told Sky Sports News HQ: ‘’It has always been the same - when the Elite Player Squad was set-up and certainly for the last three or four years since Stuart Lancaster has been involved.
“Lancaster has been very adamant that if you want to play for England, you stay in England which is very black and white for a player.
“If you move to France you’re not going to get picked, so you stay in England if you want to play for England.”
