Six Nations Championship
Armitage replaces injured Moody for England
Scrum.com
January 26, 2009
London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage in action against Wasps at Twickenham, September 6 2008
Steffon Armitage has been promoted from the England Saxons squad © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Steffon Armitage

London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage has been called into the England Elite Player Squad (EPS) for the Six Nations as a replacement for the injured Leicester openside Lewis Moody.

Moody was ruled out of the tournament after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury sustained in training, meaning that Armitage joins his brother, fullback Delon, in the squad for the first time. His place in the England Saxons squad has been taken by Harlequins skipper Will Skinner.

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

Armitage has been at London Irish since 2006, and his pace and physicality have drawn plaudits in the Premiership this season. He made his Saxons bow against the USA at last summer's Churchill Cup.

Bath skipper Michael Lipman has also flown out to England's training camp in Portugal after receiving treatment on a head injury sustained in Sunday's Heineken Cup draw with Toulouse.

Harlequins wing Ugo Monye is also nursing a back injury but will remain under supervision of the England medical staff while Saxons players Ben Kay (Leicester), Matt Banahan (Bath) and Joe Worsley (Wasps) will also remain with the EPS squad as potential injury cover.

The majority of England's squad train for the first time on Monday afternoon, with players involved in Sunday's Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup ties sitting out training and undergoing rehab sessions.

© Scrum.com

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