Steffon Armitage to leave Biarritz and return to 'where it all started'

Biarritz flanker Steffon Armitage will leave the TOP14 club at the end of the season to join National club Nice in the third division of France.

Armitage confirmed the news in an interview with the bi-weekly newspaper Midi Olympique saying "This [Nice] is where it all started, where I have all my childhood memories."

The 36-year-old earned five test caps for England and played for the likes of Saracens, London Irish, Toulon, and Pau before joining Biarritz.

Armitage explained the reasoning behind his decision saying that he wants to help Nice (Stade Niçois) gain promotion to the PROD2.

"Stade Niçois remains my favorite club. At the end of the season in Biarritz, I said to myself: either I stop everything, or I start again on a new project to finish well", he said.

Having helped Biarritz return to the TOP14 and Toulon win three Champions Cup titles, Armitage says he hopes to be part of one more bit of history before retiring.

I have always made sure to participate in the history of the clubs in which I have passed," he said.

"In Toulon, in Biarritz, and today it's Nice's turn. I want to be part of the memory of this club".

Nice are in a position where they could qualify for the PROD2 before Armitage's arrival having qualified for the promotion playoffs.