'Wilkinson thought I used his tee to embarrass him - I ended up buying one'
Delon Armitage swapped London Irish for Toulon in 2012 - a move that would begin a trophy-laden period alongside England great Jonny Wilkinson.
The fullback admits he "couldn't really resist" the call when the French side wanted to add him to their team of Galacticos. His brother, Stefon, who would go on to be named Europe's best player in 2014, was already at the Stade Mayol and urged him to come join the revolution.
The millions of comic booker owner Mourad Boudjellal had turned Toulon from a second tier side to Europe's most formidable outfit as he recruited World Cup winners from England, New Zealand and South Africa. Armitage was by no means the most fashionable name on the starting XV, but was integral to their success.
Armitage, speaking at the launch of Spabreaks.com’s Men’s Health Week campaign “Real Men Relax", told Mirror Sport: "At the time things weren't going too well with me at London Irish and with England. Back in 2011 I think we'd probably had the worst World Cup ever, so it was a bit of a downer in my career. My brother had moved the year before and the opportunity came up as they were looking for a fullback."
Armitage would go on to score the match-winning try in the European Cup as Toulon overcame Clermont Auvergne in Dublin in 2013 - a victory that would set them on an unprecedented run of three straight successes. An achievement yet to be matched as they secured more memorable days in Cardiff and Twickenham.
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Wilkinson was key to the first two, retiring in 2014. The fly-half still enjoys heroic status after his 2003 World Cup exploits and is as greatly adored in Toulon. Renowned for his goalkicking, he he once turned to Armitage to slot a kick that he deemed beyond him in a closely fought semi-final win over Munster.
The fullback scored the winning try in the final in 2013Armitage obliged, albeit in unconventional circumstances, that left Wilkinson puzzled. He recalled: "The Munster one, we were a player down at the time and there was about a minute left on the sin binning. I remember going up and saying 'I'll have a go' and he kind of looks at me and then he goes 'okay, I haven't got the range, you have a go'. What was even worse though is that I didn't have my tee.
"The guy with the tee ran on and he realised I was taking it so he turned around to go look for mine, but I told him to keep coming. So I actually kicked it with Jonny's tee, on the film you can see him almost thinking why was he using his tee - he's done it to embarrass me! He's taken my kick and used my tee! But he's great with it, I ended up buying the same tee as him. I think the only reason I got it was because I was using his tee!"
Armitage, like all who play with him, was full of praise for the fly-half. "He used to hold the bus up, he took ages training," he joked. "Jonny, there's a lot said about him, but he's always got time for you. I remember going there and asked for some tips and he'll spend 15 minutes with you and then go and do stuff for himself. If I look back at my career and someone asks if I had to change anything, I would probably say work a bit harder, be more professional like Jonny was and my career would've probably lasted a bit longer."
Delon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson won two finals togetherThe 26-cap international left Toulon in 2016, spending three years at fellow Top 14 side Lyon, before calling time on his career. He returned to England shortly before the pandemic, which by no means aided his shift into life after being a professional.
Armitage is now getting his rugby kicks with National 2 side Dorking, who finished third last term. Now aged 39, the former fullback doesn't think he has the desire to be involved in the sport full-time, but enjoys being one of the lads.
He added: "A lot of people ask me what I miss. I don't miss going on the field, I miss the off field and all the preparing. The actual 80 minutes of getting beaten up you don't miss, running out before the kick-off I do miss. But it is a contact sport and the older you get it hurts! I miss being around the environment, but I'm not sure I'd do it full-time, even as a coach.
"I enjoy being in and out. But I still change in the players changing room - not the coaches. To be one of the lads, it is my favourite time!"
The former England star believes recovery is key for the modern player (Spabreaks)Nowadays, with the game more physical and demanding than ever, especially at the top level, recovery and taking care of your body has taken on growing importance. Armitage, speaking from a state-of-the-art spa, admits he was never one to enjoy the cold side of what it could offer - but loved the social aspect.
"I wasn't really (a fan), we had to do it a lot for recovery, which I didn't enjoy at the time," he claimed. "Now, I love it. We had to do (the plunge pools) which is why I didn't like doing them. Recovery wise, maybe having chat with my mates in a pool - yes. Having to do ice baths and massage, I wasn't a big fan.
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"We didn't understand it coming through. When I was coming through weights was optional, massage after a session was optional. Now it is very important."
Delon Armitage was speaking as Spabreaks.com, the UK’s leading spa booking and experience agency, launch their Men’s Health Week campaign “Real Men Relax", to highlight the benefits of spa to men of all trades and backgrounds. For more information, visit www.spabreaks.com
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