Armitage to fight eight-week ban

England international Delon Armitage is to appeal against his eight-week ban imposed by the Rugby Football Union.

The London Irish full-back was suspended on Thursday for "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game", ruling him out of action until 17 March and effectively the entire RBS 6 Nations Championship. Armitage was found guilty of pushing and using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards a doping control officer during a routine test immediately after Irish's Aviva Premiership defeat against Bath on 1 January.

But Armitage, 27, and his club Irish have now issued a strongly-worded statement, hoping the player can adequately prepare his case. The statement read: "Having been given just 48 hours' notice of the charges and the hearing, Delon hopes to be given a proper opportunity to prepare his case in order that the appeal panel may reach a decision which takes into account the circumstances of the incident."