Brock James (left) watches Delon Armitage score the deciding try in the 2013 European Cup Final in Dublin. Photo: Getty Images/Stu Forster
Delon Armitage sparked a furious backlash from Clermont-Auvergne after the former England full-back called fans of the top 14 clubs 'bastards' at a Toulon Hall of Fame dinner.
Armitage, who won three Heineken Cups and the national title in four years in Toulon, was referring to the incident in the 2013 European final between the two clubs at the Aviva stadium. As you can see in the video below, the 39-year-old teased Clermont midfielder Brock James when he scored the game-tying try — an act Armitage has since regretted — which led Auvergne fans to «hate him on the four years.
«I have to thank you Toulon fans,» Armitage, who has won 26 caps for his country, said at the club's gala dinner on Tuesday. “Whether it was on a flight, in a stadium, or when we met on the street – and even when those bastards from Clermont booed me for four years. Thank you very much.”
Despite Armitage's words seemingly jokingly, Clermont, who had never won the Heineken Cup after losing three finals, was vague about the comments and responded furiously on social media the next morning, tweeting that «hate there is no place in our sport.” . Adding fuel to Clermont's response was an image that disappeared amid their Twitter statement in which Armitage was handed over to Napolioni Nalaga, a former wing of the Auvergne.
«Former Toulon defender Delon Armitage, better known for outbursts than advice, took the liberty of insulting our fans by publicly calling them 'bastards' during the club's Hall of Fame inauguration ceremony,» the statement said.
“A pathetic way to celebrate his reunion with the Toulon public, which, like ours and all those who fill the stands of our sport, has mastered the nuance between getting under the skin and insulting.
“We will never allow anyone to incite hatred and insult our supporters, who have always been the pride of Clermont-Auvergne. Our sport and our club deserve so much more.»
Armitage responded to Clermont's tweet with a selfie in front of the Toulon trophy cabinet with the caption: «Have a nice day! 😘”
Armitage has been no stranger to controversy throughout his rugby career. In 2011, while playing for the London Irish, the cornerback was suspended for a total of 13 weeks of the season for first verbally abusing and pushing a doping official and then hitting Bath's Dave Attwood in the next match. Armitage was arrested in 2012 for an alleged incident at a nightclub in Torquay, and in 2014 a full-back was suspended for 12 weeks for verbally abusing Leicester Tigers fans.
Toulon released a statement later Wednesday. to distance himself from Armitage's remarks, even if they were said "in the euphoria of a holiday".
"At' Meeting and attending the first edition of the Toulon Hall of Fame Gala on Tuesday, Delon Armitage made a deplorable statement about ASM Clermont Auvergne supporters.
" ; , and without detracting from the recognition of Delon by the club or what he brought to him at the sporting level, Toulon dissociated himself from the term used to describe Clermont fans.
"Toulon reiterates its deepest respect for the supporters of their opponents. More than ever, Rouge et Noir stands for respect for all, consideration for all opponents and friendship between rugby supporters"
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