England fullback Delon Armitage will miss most of the Six Nations after being banned for eight weeks.

The 27-year-old London Irish player appeared before a Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary hearing for allegedly pushing an anti-doping officer after his club's game against Bath on New Year's Day.

His ban ends on March 16, three days before England's concluding Six Nations match against Ireland.

The RFU charged Armitage with "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the sport" following the incident.

Trinidad-born Armitage, who returned a negative test, has won 19 England caps and had been named in Martin Johnson's squad for the Six Nations, although he had lost his place in the starting line-up to Ben Foden last season.

The ban is a fresh blow to Johnson, who is already missing Lewis Moody, Tom Croft, Courtney Lawes and Dave Attwood for at least the first month of the competition.

It also means that a total of 10 players who could have featured in the tournament-opening clash with Wales on February 4 have been ruled out of the Millennium Stadium meeting.

The hosts will be missing Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Richie Rees, Tom Shanklin and Andrew Bishop.

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