Former England captain confirms shock PREM return to revitalise international career ahead of 2027 World Cup
Brive confirmed that former England captain Courtney Lawes would be leaving the club at the end of the season with it likely he would return to the PREM.
Now, a club in the English top-flight has confirmed the news that they have landed the former British and Irish Lion.
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign England and British and Irish Lions forward Lawes on a one-year deal from the start of the 2026/27 season.
The versatile 37-year-old, who can play at lock or in the back row, won 105 caps for his country during a 14-year international career that included four Rugby World Cups and five Lions caps across two tours.
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On the domestic scene he played almost 300 times for his boyhood club, Northampton Saints, and captained them to their first Gallagher PREM title in ten years in 2024.
That 2024 PREM final, against Bath, would be his final game in green and gold before leaving for French Pro D2 side Brive.
Now after two years in the south of France he’s heading back across the channel to join Sharks’ Northern Force and have one last crack at English rugby’s biggest prize – and maybe even force his way into Steve Borthwick’s England squad.
Courtney said: “I'm really excited to be joining Sale. I've been out of the Prem now for a couple of years and I just want to finish my career playing at a the top level. I think Sale have got a brilliant squad so hopefully I can add to that and we’ll see what we can do next year.
“My body feels good and I’m still performing at a high level. I feel like I can compete with the best of them, and then some, and I think if I retired now, I'd probably regret it when I was older.
“As a rugby player, you've got a very finite career and you’re a long time retired so I want to make the most of it while I can, give it everything for another season and then we’ll see what happens.
“When I decided I wanted to come back to the Prem there were only a couple of teams I would have signed for. Obviously Saints because of my history, but Sale were the other one because my wife’s family is all from Cheshire.
“There will be quite a few familiar faces at the club. I’ve played with a lot of the England lads and Dorian West was my first forwards coach as a professional player. I know the club is bringing in some brilliant players for next season too – guys like Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski will add a lot on and off the field.
“I’m officially un-retiring from international duty and I’d love to play for England again but first and foremost I want to play well for Sale and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Sharks Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Courtney is the kind of player and person that suits this club. He’s robust, dynamic around the park and he hits hard, but he has a fantastic skillset that means he’s so much more than just a banger.
“Rugby is a small world and if you’re a good bloke, you work hard, you’re honest, and bring energy to a club, that goes around and that’s exactly what you hear about Courtney.
“He wants to bring people with him and lead from the front and I love that. Plus he’s captained England and knows what it’s like to play and win on the biggest stage.
“I can’t wait to see him train and play with us, but from a coaching perspective I’m really looking forward to working with someone I’ve heard so many good things about.
“Courtney believes in what we’re doing and wants to be part of the club. He’s coming back to try and win trophies and play international rugby again and he believes he can do that with us.
“It’s another sign of the intent of the club and the passion and commitment of the owners to really put Sale on the map.”
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan