FORMER England fly-half Mike Catt has claimed Brixham's Steffon Armitage could become the next Neil Back.

2003 World Cup winner Catt has tipped the 23-year-old London Irish flanker to join brother Delon in the senior squad. Delon, one of five rugby playing brothers from Brixham, made his full England debut in the autumn series of internationals last year.

Steffon was a colt at Brixham and also played for Devon at U19 level before graduating into the Fishermen's 1st XV at the end of the 2003-04 season. One of his last games was in the Devon Cup final that season, which Brixham lost to Newton Abbot.

Armitage was lured away into the pro game with Saracens, then switched to London Irish almost three years ago.

Brothers Bevon (England Counties) and Guy (England U16) have also won international honours in recent seasons.

Guy has recently been selected for the England U19 squad, while youngest brother Joel is currently turning it on for Brixham's U14 side.

Currently in the England Saxons squad, Catt believes Armitage could be in line for promotion when the new Elite Player Squad is announced on Wednesday.

"Steff's from the Neil Back mould. He's got every attribute to be an international open-side flanker," said Catt.

"He's been outstanding for London Irish this season. His distribution is very good, his pace is very good and he's great over the ball. I think he deserves an opportunity.

"I know what these Armitages are like! Delon took his opportunity with both hands and somewhere along the line I'm sure Steff will do the exactly the same."

Armitage has caught the eye in the Premiership this season due to his versatility, as a ball carrier, line breaker and tackler. He leads the Premiership in completed tackles.

Armitage's rise to prominence has not happened by accident. After impressing two seasons ago he went off the boil and strong words were spoken behind the scenes.

"I wasn't contributing enough, I wasn't fit enough to play for 80 minutes. I was overweight," Armitage said.

"I'm never going to be tall and lean, although I do my stretches every day, but I have to be fit."

Exiles coach Toby Booth, a former short flanker himself, although with "none of the talent of Steffon", concurs. "He had a great season and then started enjoying the lifestyle of being a professional rugby player without putting in the necessary work."

There were no dramas, just honest words as to where Steffon had to change his ways and the result was a dedicated fitness regime over the summer and the shedding of almost two stone.

The challenge now is to convince England manager Martin Johnson that he could do a job for his country.

JOHNSON was in South Devon over the weekend, honing his squad plans during a break in the South Hams

Veteran freelance photographer Arthur Kay, a big rugby fan whose son David once played for Brixham, was paying for his petrol in Harbertonford on Saturday when he heard a familiar voice in the queue.

"I looked round and there he was - all six foot seven inches of him," said Arthur.

"He asked for a token for the car wash and off he went to clean his Range Rover.

"Sir Clive Woodward has a place down at Salcombe and I wouldn't be surprised if he had been down there for the weekend working on his team plans.