The past few days has seen the announcement that Courtney Lawes will leave France and return to England, transferring from Brive in the Pro D2 to Sale Sharks in the PREM—with the transfer taking place this summer.
Now 37 years of age, Lawes has been out of the England national team plans after his transfer from Northampton Saints overseas to France in 2024, but a return to his homeland has re-ignited conversations around whether a recall is possible.
Lawes has played in 18 out of 25 games in the domestic league for Brive this year, being a reliable veteran presence at the flanker position as his team sit fifth in the table.
Courtney Lawes has been ‘missed’ in the England setup
There is no question that in many ways, Courtney Lawes has been one of the faces of modern English rugby on the international stage, given the fact that he has made over 100 appearances for his nation between 2009 and 2023, and has been with his country for four World Cups.
If he was to make his way back into the England squad, Lawes could act as a point of experience for younger locks like Ollie Chessum of Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints’ Alex Coles to look up to, given that the two are 25 and 26 respectively and were both at the 2026 Six Nations.
Speaking on a potential return, Ben Youngs, who played with Lawes at international level for 13 years, stated what would need to occur on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast:
“In form, Courtney Laws is one of the best back rowers in the world. He is. And I think him coming back in England, him playing for Sale, why would you remove yourself from the shop window of International Rugby when you’re a year out from the World Cup?
“You look at England’s back row and you look at the balance, what have we missed? A tall, athletic, line out six [which Lawes is].”
Co-host Dan Cole, who was also a stalwart with England throughout the 2010s and early 2020s, added a fellow optimistic take, but stressed that age could be a factor:
“[He clearly] wants to play in England and for Sale. And yeah—if he tears up trees, it will be in England too… Asking a 37-year-old to do that, I’m not saying it’s not beyond Courtney at all. He can do it, but just the management of how he plays, how much you play, that stuff, the grind. It’s not a given, but if he does [make a return], fair play to him… he wants to do it, and he’s in a position to do it.”
