Armitage wants to return to England

Former England flanker Steffon Armitage is targeting a return to England after telling Toulon that he wants to leave the French club.

Thirty-year-old flanker won five caps for England before he left for France where he took his game to new heights and has been on of the triple European cup winners star players.

In 2014 the flanker was named European player of the year in 2014.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has revealed that Armitage has asked him to leave the French giants this summer having held talks with England head coach Eddie Jones.

Armitage is contracted to Toulon until the end of the 2017 season and Boudjellal says he will release the flanker to an English club if they buy him out if they can find a replacement.

The Flanker is still eligible for England selection but the RFU has a policy of only selecting foreign based players in exceptional circumstances.

The most likely destination for Armitage is Wasps as they are looking for a replacement for veteran Wallabies flanker George Smith who is returning to Japan top play club rugby at the end of the current season.

Armitage almost moved to Bath last year with an eye on pushing his way into Stuart Lancaster’s World Cup squad but the two clubs could not agree on a transfer fee.