Armitage gets England call

12 April 2012

England manager Martin Johnson has called up London Irish back row Steffon Armitage to his elite player squad.

Armitage, the brother of Test full-back Delon, has been promoted from the second-string Saxons following the broken ankle suffered by Lewis Moody.

Johnson said: "Steffon has been in very good form for London Irish this season and deserves his opportunity."

There has been an increasingly vocal lobby for the 23-year-old's first Test inclusion this season after a string of fine performances for the Exiles.

However, he appeared a long shot to feature in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, which begins in less than a fortnight, until Leicester flanker Moody broke his ankle on Thursday - an injury that could rule the 30-year-old out for up to three months.

As well as Armitage, Johnson has also summoned Bath captain Michael Lipman to the elite squad's warm-weather training camp in Portugal. On his arrival, he will be assessed by England's medics after being knocked out in Sunday's Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse.

Winger Ugo Monye has not travelled to Portugal in order to undergo treatment on a sore back, while Saxons trio Ben Kay, Matt Banahan and Joe Worsley have joined the squad to provide back-up ahead of the Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7.

In the Saxons squad, meanwhile, Harlequins flanker Will Skinner has been added but will remain at The Stoop for the rest of this week.