Former England captain Courtney Lawes is poised to depart French rugby club Brive at the conclusion of the current season, with plans to return to the English Premiership.
Lawes, who joined the Pro D2 side two years ago following a decorated 17-year tenure at Northampton Saints, is reportedly attracting interest from Leicester Tigers. The 37-year-old flanker's potential move back to England could have significant implications for his international future.
"I'm having an experience in Brive that I'll never forget, both on and off the pitch," Lawes stated. "I'm going to give it my all until the end of the season to finish this adventure with CAB in the best possible way."
Brive president Thierry Blandinieres praised Lawes' contribution to the club, noting that the veteran player arrived "with humility and ambition" and has "shown the full extent of his talent since his first day."
While Lawes retired from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup in France, a return to English club rugby could reopen the door for national team selection. Current Rugby Football Union regulations stipulate that head coach Steve Borthwick can only select players based in England for next year's tournament in Australia.
Lawes earned his first England cap in 2009 and represented his country in four consecutive Rugby World Cups (2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023). His departure from Northampton Saints in 2024 came after captaining the club to their first Premiership title in a decade.