Ask any England rugby fan to name an all-time XV and the name Courtney Lawes is likely to be in the conversation for a spot in either the second row or back row. With 105 caps and five Lions appearances under his belt, the 37-year-old is one of the greats of the modern game….and next year he’ll be wearing the navy blue of Sale Sharks after signing a one-year deal to join the club for the 2026/27 season.
Courtney left his boyhood club, Northampton Saints, in 2024 after captaining them to their first Gallagher PREM title in ten years and after two years experiencing what the south west of France has to offer, he’s heading home for a last crack at the English game’s biggest prize.
But that’s not all. With a Rugby World Cup looming in 2027, Courtney has officially ‘un-retired’ from international duty and he has his eyes on a spot in Steve Borthwick’s 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 and they can do really well in the Prem so hopefully I can add to that and we’ll see what we can do next year.
“My body feels really good and I’m still performing at a high level in France. 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 I have for another season and then we’ll see what happens.”
When Courtney does arrive there will be plenty of familiar faces around Carrington – and off the field, his family will be right at home in the north west of England.
“When I decided I wanted to come back to the Prem there were only a couple of teams I would have signed for,” he said. “Obviously Saints because of my history, but Sale were the other one because my wife’s family is all from Cheshire. Her home club is Nantwich so we’re going to live on the farm over there.
“There will be quite a few familiar faces at the club too. I’ve played with a lot of the England lads, like Fordy, Dickie and the Curry boys, so it’ll be great to play with them again. Dorian West was my first forwards coach as a professional player as well so I’m looking forward to working with him again.
“I know the club is bringing in some brilliant player for next season too – guys like Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski will add a lot on and off the field.
“But Sale have a lot of fantastic young players too and I’m really looking forward to seeing how I can help them reach their potential. I’ve got a lot of experience in how to prepare for games so I’ll try and pass on as much of that as I can.”
Courtney experienced plenty of battles with Sale teams over the years and now he’s looking forward to being part of the home pack at the CorpAcq Stadium.
“As a player Sale was always a really tough place to go and I can’t remember winning there too many times,” he said. “It was always a tough, physical battle against some really good players so I’m looking forward to being on the home team. I know the club has fantastic fans too so I’m excited to meet them and play in front of them.
“I have thought about what it’ll be like to go back to Northampton as an opposition player and I can’t wait. I’ve got so much respect for the club but I think it’ll be just as much fun to go back as an opposition player as it was to play for them.”
And so to England. When Courtney left Saints he officially retired from international rugby. But now he’s heading back across the channel and while he knows competition for back five spots in Steve Borthwick’s team is fierce, he still has the ambition to play for his country again.
“I’m officially un-retiring from international duty,” he added. “I’d love to play for England again and there is loads of ambition there still, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be involved. I know I’ve got a lot of work to do.
“First and foremost I want to play well for Sale and we’ll see what happens after that.
“It would be great to play in another world cup but we’ll see what happens.”
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.”
