Delon Armitage (ex-Toulon) insults Clermont supporters

On the sidelines of the inauguration of the Hall of Fame in Toulon, Delon Armitage insulted the supporters of ASM Clermont Auvergne on Tuesday. Armitage reflected on his time at the RCT, between 2012 and 2016, saying: “I really want to thank you, you Toulon supporters. Even when I was whistled for four years by those bastards from Clermont”. At the origin of the whistles of the spectators of the Marcel-Michelin stadium at each of his appearances, there is the chambering of the Toulonnais towards the Clermontois Brock James, a mocking hello while the English back scored the decisive try at the end of the Champions Cup final, giving victory to the RCT on May 18, 2013 (16-15).

Delon Armitage scores the winning try in the Champions Cup final, ahead of Brock James (Toulon 16-15 victory against Clermont, May 18, 2013). (S. Boué/The Team)

Ten years later, Armitage relaunched the war, angering the Clermont club, which reacted in a statement on Wednesday. “Better known for his outbursts than his framing, ex-RCT fullback Delon Armitage took the liberty of insulting our supporters by publicly calling them ‘bastards’ during the RCT Hall of Fame ceremony, castigated the current tenth of Top 14 in a message posted on social networks. A poor way to celebrate his reunion with the Toulon public who, like ours and all those who fill the stands of our sport, master the nuance between ” chambering ” and ” insults ”. We will never let anyone vent their hatred and insult our supporters who have always been the pride of ASM. Our sport and our club deserve much more than that. »

“The RCT dissociates itself from the term used to describe the Clermont public. »

The ex-back of the RCT responded in his own way by posting a snapshot of him with the European Cup trophy, flanked by an ironic “Good day” as a comment. This forced the Var club to also react, a few hours later, in a press release for a final update. “During a meeting with the supporters and on the sidelines of the gala evening of the first edition of the Hall of Fame RCT, Delon Armitage yesterday (Tuesday) made a regrettable remark against the supporters of the ASM Clermont-Auvergne.

Even if these words were spoken in the euphoria of a festive day and without taking anything away from the recognition of the club for Delon and what he brought to it sportingly, the RCT dissociates itself from the term used to qualify the Clermont public. The RCT recalls its deepest respect for the supporters of its opponents. More than ever, the red and black club advocates respect for everyone, consideration for all opponents and friendship between rugby supporters. »