Sky says sorry for Best’s Armitage remark

Former England rugby coach makes race-related remark about black player Delon Armitage live on air

Sky Sports apologised today after airing a race-related remark about the black England rugby union player Delon Armitage.

The former England coach Dick Best made the comment about Armitage while he was being interviewed at Heathrow airport by Sky Sports News ahead of today's squad announcement for the British Lions rugby union tour of South Africa this summer.

After his choices for the Lions' first XV were published onscreen, which included full-back Armitage out of position on the wing, Best was asked why he had selected the England player over Ireland winger Tommy Bowe.

"You've always got to have a coloured boy in the team," Best remarked.

The camera then cut back to the studio.

Sky Sports News presenter Millie Clode later apologised: "[Best] made remarks that he thought were off-camera. We would like to apologise for any offence this may have caused."

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