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Courtney Lawes Unretires and Signs With Sale Sharks

07 April, 2026.Sports.3 sources

Key Takeaways

Courtney Lawes unretires from international duty and signs with Sale Sharks.
Two-year stint in France with Brive after leaving Northampton Saints.
Retired from international rugby in 2023 after the World Cup.

Return to Premiership

Lawes announced he is officially un-retiring from international rugby after signing with Sale Sharks.

“Former England captain Courtney Lawes says he is "officially unretiring from international duty" after signing for Sale Sharks for the 2026-27 season”

BBC

He spent his entire club career with Northampton Saints before joining French side Brive in 2024.

BBC

Sale director of rugby described Lawes as exactly the kind of player and person that suits this club.

Glittering International Career

Lawes won three Six Nations championships and played in the 2019 World Cup final.

He retired from internationals after the 2023 tournament.

SA Rugby magazine

He captained Northampton Saints to their first league title in a decade in 2024.

Ambitions at Sale

Lawes said there were only a couple of teams he would have signed for.

“Ex-England captain Lawes 'unretires' from international rugby Courtney Lawes would relish the chance to play for England again after he signed on at Sale Sharks from next season”