Tuesday evening took place at the Zénith de Toulon, a very special evening, the first French “Hall of Fame of sport”. Organized by the RCT to return to its former glories, many former players from the great years of Toulon were present. Especially when the RCT won the European Cup three times in a row (2013, 2014 and 2015).
During this evening, a sentence quickly became controversial. A sentence pronounced by the former Toulon rear Delon Armitage. The Englishman thanked the RCT supporters for always supporting him even when he was whistled “by those bastards from Clermont” he said verbatim.
As soon as this speech was broadcast, Clermont was quick to react in a press release published by the club this Wednesday morning, describing “a poor way of celebrating his reunion with the Toulon public who, like ours and all of those who fill the stands of our sport, masters the nuance between “chambering” and “insults”.
The RCT held after the words of the former rear, to recall “his deepest respect for the supporters of his opponents” while “dissociating himself from the term used to qualify the Clermont public”.
“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 made a regrettable comment against the supporters of ASM Clermont Auvergne , can we read in the full statement of the RCT. 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.
