Steffon Armitage is set for a move to France after agreeing terms with Toulon, it emerged on Friday.
Exiles flanker signs two-year deal with Top 14 outfit
Steffon Armitage is set for a move to France after agreeing terms with Toulon, it emerged on Friday.
Club president and owner Mourad Boudjellal announced that the London Irish flanker had signed a two-year contract with the Top 14 side.
The deal was hammered out after Armitage met with Toulon coach Philippe Saint-Andre during the recent Six Nations tournament.
"He's a very fast player and very powerful, given his size and his weight," said Saint-Andre "He can also play at centre and he speaks French."
Armitage, who stands 1.75 metres tall and weighs around 16st 3lb, spent five years with London Irish after joining the Exiles from Saracens in 2006.
"He's a very professional player," added fellow Englishman and new team-mate Jonny Wilkinson. "Very good in defence and he's a big threat when he's running with the ball."
Boost
Toulon were eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup last weekend at the hands of fellow Top 14 side Perpignan.
And the 25-year old is one of several players signed by the club in order to boost their squad for next season.
Australian international fly-half Matt Giteau is due to arrive in time for next season along with South African Bakkies Botha, Welsh international Eifion Lewis-Roberts, scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres), Brive winger Alexis Palisson and Pau fly-half Julien Dumora.
The club are also expected to confirm the arrival of Fijian back-rowers Seva Rokobaro and Jone Tawake in the coming days.
