Courtney Lawes will return to English rugby for next season – raising the enticing possibility of a return to the England squad ahead of the World Cup.
The 37-year-old forward and former national captain won 105 caps for his country and five with the British & Irish Lions before retiring from Test duty after the 2023 World Cup.
Lawes has played the past two seasons with French second division side Brive, but on Monday his current employers confirmed he will move back to his homeland – with Sale Sharks appearing to be the most likely destination.
Lawes played his entire club career with Northampton before moving to Brive. Manchester-based Sale could confirm his signing as soon as Tuesday.
A move back to PREM Rugby raises the possibility that he could make himself available again for England for the 2027 World Cup.
‘I’m having an experience in Brive that I’ll never forget, both on and off the pitch,’ Lawes said, in a French press release that did not confirm his next destination.
‘I’m going to give it my all until the end of the season to finish this adventure in the best possible way. My family and I have been very warmly welcomed and we will always have Brive at heart.’
He is set to be joined at Sale next season by another current French-based England international in Stade Francis centre Joe Marchant. Alex Lozowski of Saracens will also be joining Alex Sanderson’s side.
Courtney Lawes has won 105 caps for England and five for the British & Irish Lions
Sale travel to Irish giants Leinster on Saturday for a European Champions Cup quarter-final clash, but have had a disappointing PREM campaign.
They have won just three of 12 league games and director of rugby Sanderson has been keen to add a back-row to his squad. He held talks with England flanker Chandler Cunningham-South, but opted against a deal on financial grounds and Cunningham-South re-signed with Harlequins.
The 2026-27 season will be Lawes’ 20th as a professional. He told Daily Mail Sport last month he feels he still has a lot to offer at the top level.
The tough-tackling back-row held talks with Leicester Tigers and was of interest to a host of other PREM clubs but Sale look to have won the race for his signature.
‘I’m looking to do one more season,’ Lawes said. ‘That’ll round me off to 20 years as a professional. I think I’m still performing at quite a high level, so I don’t really want to stop yet.
‘I’ve known Geoff Parling (Leicester head coach) for a long time. Ultimately, the offer wasn’t quite right. I won’t be playing for Leicester, but I appreciated the sentiment nonetheless. For a Northampton man like me to go and play for Leicester would have caused quite a ruckus.’
Opening up on his time in France, Lawes said: ‘It’s been fantastic. All my kids are now fluent French speakers and that’s a great life skill for them. I don’t regret moving out here whatsoever. The rugby’s been very different, but enjoyable. It’s a really good group of lads. Life’s great. The weather’s good. I can’t really complain.’
