Courtney Lawes, 37, has been handed a lifeline by new Sale boss Alex Sanderson, who vows to rally the veteran for a return to the England squad for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Lawes, who last featured for England in 2023, currently plies his trade in France’s second tier with Brive but has agreed a move to Sale next season.

Sanderson insists Lawes is in peak physical shape, citing his durability and recent performances. “We can give him a platform, with the pack that we’ve got and the players we’ve recruited, to put the best of himself back into the Premiership,” he says. The move adds depth to Sale’s squad as they battle to climb out of the Champions Cup quarter‑final exit and chase a Premier League playoff spot.

With Sale’s season hanging in the balance, the club’s new signings—former England internationals Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski, Wales props Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis—back the initiative. The 65‑14 loss to Leinster last week still haunts the squad, but Sanderson’s focus is on delivering a strong finish to the campaign and providing Lawes a platform to prove he can still compete at the highest level.