Delon Armitage of London Irish banned for three weeks

Armitage's disciplinary record could affect his England World Cup hopes

England international Delon Armitage has been suspended for three weeks for striking Northampton's Stephen Myler.

The London Irish full-back, capped 19 times, has been suspended from 4-10 May and 24 May-6 June for the incident in the Premiership game on 23 April.

The ban has been split because London Irish cannot qualify for play-offs.

An eight-week ban for pushing an anti-doping officer cost him a Six Nations place and he will now miss England's game with the Barbarians on 29 May.

He will also be unavailable for London Irish's final Premiership game of the season at Leicester on 7 May.

It is a huge blow to the talented 27-year-old's aspirations of earning a place in England's World Cup squad later this year.

He made his Test debut in 2008 but has recently fallen down the pecking order with Northampton's Ben Foden preferred as Martin Johnson's first-choice for the number 15 jersey.

Armitage was found guilty of using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language during a drug test after the Exiles' game against Bath in January.

RFU disciplinary officer judge Jeff Blackett said during his first disciplinary hearing that his behaviour was "completely unacceptable" before enforcing the eight-week ban.