Exiles lose Armitage for trip to Thomond

Armitage was found guilty of pushing and using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language towards the official after his club's defeat to Bath at the Madejski Stadium on New Year's Day.

The England international pleaded not guilty to pushing the official and guilty to using threatening and/or abusive and obscene language, with the Rugby Football Union suspending him for conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game.

"His behaviour was completely unacceptable," said Judge Jeff Blackett, the chair of the disciplinary panel.

"It brought discredit on himself and his club and failed to uphold one of the core values of the game - respect.

"Doping control officers should expect to carry out their important work without fear of abuse and be treated with respect at all times.

"We took into account that it was not a violent push but more of a brush past and that was accepted by the doping control officer.

"We took the offences as a whole and, in line with the sanctions for abuse of match officials, we decided that a low end entry point of 12 weeks was appropriate. This was reduced to eight weeks on account of his remorse, his letter of apology to the doping control officer and his relatively good record."

Armitage has featured in all bar one of the Exiles' five Heineken Cup games this term, including last weekend's victory over the Ospreys in London.

In total, Armitage has made 38 European appearances for Irish - 19 in the Heineken Cup and the same number in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

As well as missing the encounter with Munster, Armitage has been ruled out of England's first four Six Nations matches.

He will only be available for selection for the final tie in Ireland on March 19, with his ban ending just days earlier.