Courtney Lawes has received strong support to reclaim his spot on the England rugby squad following the announcement of his one-year contract with Sale Sharks, effective this summer. The former captain has spent the last two seasons playing for Brive in France’s Pro D2 league but has expressed a desire to return to international rugby if the opportunity presents itself.
As Lawes approaches his 38th birthday in February and has already stepped away from the Test arena after the 2023 World Cup in France, he believes he still has the potential to make a significant impact in top-tier rugby. This sentiment is echoed by Alex Sanderson, the director of rugby at Sale, who is excited about integrating the veteran player into the team in Manchester.
“We wouldn’t have brought him on board if he was merely after a paycheck,” Sanderson stated. “That’s not what I perceive, and the statistics support this. He possesses the skills and experience necessary to perform exceptionally well over the coming season, if not beyond.”
“Courtney is resilient, dynamic, and delivers powerful tackles, but he also brings an impressive skill set that makes him much more than just a physical player. He aims to uplift his teammates and lead effectively, which I admire. His experience as an England captain, along with his understanding of competing and succeeding on grand stages, adds to his value. It’s clear he is invested in our vision, making this a fitting opportunity for him as he aspires to return to the World Cup squad.”
Throughout his career, Lawes has represented England in four World Cups and devoted 17 years to Northampton, securing two Premiership titles and two Challenge Cup trophies. With 105 caps and three Six Nations titles under his belt, he is confident that he still has more to offer. “I feel great physically and am performing at a high level. I’m confident I can compete with the best, and if I were to retire now, I’d likely regret it later on,” he remarked.
“As a rugby player, career spans are limited, and retirement can feel long, so I want to maximize my time on the field. I am effectively un-retiring from international play and would love the chance to represent England again, but my main focus is to perform well for Sale, and we’ll see what the future holds after that.”
Meanwhile, Sale Sharks are currently facing a personnel shortage ahead of their Champions Cup quarter-final match against Leinster in Dublin this Saturday. England squad members Luke Cowan-Dickie and Bevan Rodd have both been ruled out for the remainder of the domestic season, and Sale’s hooker Nathan Jibulu has received a six-week suspension for biting his former Harlequins teammate, Will Hobson.
The incident occurred during the final quarter of Sale’s 26-17 victory over Harlequins at the Stoop, where Jibulu was making his return after relocating to Salford last summer. The 23-year-old acknowledged that he committed foul play warranting a red card and avoided a 12-week suspension after the disciplinary panel considered his guilty plea, relative inexperience, and clean disciplinary history.
Sanderson believes this incident will be a minor setback in what he anticipates will be a lengthy and successful career, shaping Jibulu into a better player regardless of its impact on his chances of being selected by Steve Borthwick for the upcoming England tour this summer. “He’s already performing well, and he’s on track to become exceptional,” Sanderson commented. “He certainly possesses the qualities necessary to be an international hooker.”
