{"id":516690,"date":"2026-04-06T23:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T23:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/516690\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T23:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T23:32:10","slug":"courtney-lawes-37-quits-france-to-return-to-england-with-move-to-future-club-set-to-be-confirmed-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/516690\/","title":{"rendered":"Courtney Lawes, 37, quits France to return to England – with move to future club set to be confirmed this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALEX BYWATER, RUGBY WRITER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 13:52 EDT, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 18:14 EDT, 6 April 2026 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Lawes played his entire club career with Northampton before moving to Brive. Manchester-based Sale could confirm his signing as soon as Tuesday.<\/p>\n

A move back to PREM Rugby raises the possibility that he could make himself available again for England for the 2027 World Cup.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

‘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.’<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Courtney <\/p>\n

Courtney Lawes has won 105 caps for England and five for the British & Irish Lions<\/p>\n

Sale travel to Irish giants Leinster on Saturday for a European Champions Cup quarter-final clash, but have had a disappointing PREM campaign.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 2026-27 season will be Lawes’ 20th\u00a0as a professional. He told\u00a0Daily Mail Sport\u00a0last month he feels he still has a lot to offer at the top level.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘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.<\/p>\n

‘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.’<\/p>\n

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.’<\/p>\n

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