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Delon Armitage desperate to return after ban

Duncan Bech,Pa
Friday 25 March 2011 11:44 GMT
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Armitage missed the entire Six Nations due to the ban
Armitage missed the entire Six Nations due to the ban (GETTY IMAGES)

England full-back Delon Armitage admits the eight-week ban that forced him to miss the entire RBS 6 Nations was a "bitter pill to swallow".

Armitage watched Martin Johnson's side win their first championship title since 2003 from the sidelines as he served his suspension for pushing and verbally abusing a doping control officer.

However, the 27-year-old accepts that he deserved to be punished for the incident that took place after London Irish's last-gasp defeat by Bath on January 1.

"It was tough watching England do so well, but we're a squad and ultimately we want England to do well," he said.

"It was a bitter pill to swallow being banned for eight weeks, which is basically the whole Six Nations, but I had to accept that I'd slipped up.

"Looking back at it, I wasn't surprised to be cited.

"What I did was wrong and I regret it. I deserved what I got because of what I did.

"I've apologised to the officer who didn't deserve it, he was obviously just trying to do his job.

"It shouldn't have happened, regardless of what state I was in.

"It's tough losing a match like that, especially when you're so passionate about the game, but it still shouldn't have happened.

"I regret what I did and I want to get back playing and start doing the right things on the field."

Armitage is set to make his comeback in London Irish's Aviva Premiership clash with Exeter tomorrow after completing the suspension last week.

Tonight's league action sees Leeds attempt to breath fresh life into their survival bid when they travel to Sale.

Seven points separate them from 11th-placed Newcastle and head coach Neil Back insists the club's destiny still remains in the team's hands with six games remaining.

"Last season we had a crucial win at Sale at a key time for us in the season," said Back.

"It really helped our momentum in the second half of the season and we will be looking for a similar performance tomorrow.

"We now have three massive games in the coming weeks to keep our destiny in our own hands and that is how we are approaching Friday's game."

England stars Steve Thompson and Mark Cueto return for Leeds and Sale respectively.

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