France

Chabal queries Armitage's France switch

ESPN Staff

Sebastien Chabal is not convinced by the policy of allowing one player to swap national allegiance © Getty Images Enlarge

Sebastien Chabal has questioned Steffon Armitage's potential switch from playing rugby for England to running out for France.

Chabal, who won 62 caps for France, admitted it would be "odd" to see Armitage turn out against England at Twickenham in either next year's Six Nations or the World Cup. But he believes France should still try to exploit Olympic qualification regulations to boost Les Bleus' chances at next year's World Cup in England.

Armitage has applied for French citizenship and could become eligible for selection to Philippe Saint-Andre's squad despite holding five England caps. Chabal admitted few Frenchmen would ever entertain the idea of representing England, but still backed Saint-Andre to select the Toulon flanker.

"You can't play for one jersey and then another one, what does that mean?" Chabal told Press Association Sport. "When I was playing if I played for France I would never want to play for another country, not at all, because that's my country.

"I don't think players should be able to switch, but for me, if the rules allow it then we should think about it. I can't see many Frenchmen wanting to play for England!

"It would be strange, definitely for him and for English people, but for us not so much, because he would be in our colours. But I think playing in England against England; that would be odd, certainly."

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