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5 months ago
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Courtney Lawes believes his last game in English rugby at Twickenham on Saturday will be ‘more special’ than the times he appeared at the venue wearing the white shirt of his country.
Lawes will bring the curtain down on a glittering Northampton career when he leads the Saints in their Gallagher Premiership final with Bath.
The 105-cap international flanker ended his Test stint with England after last year’s World Cup but has been outstanding for his club this season to take them to within one win of their first league title in a decade. Lawes has played his entire domestic career with Northampton but will join French second division side Brive for next season.
It means the Premiership final will be his last Saints match.
‘I’ve had a good few games out there (Twickenham) for England that stick in the memory. For Saints the 2014 Premiership final was the big one,’ Lawes said.
Courtney Lawes is looking to conclude his Northampton career by winning the title
Lawes has played his entire domestic career with Northampton but will join French side Brive
‘This one seems even more special. It feels unique in a lot of ways. It’s going to be an incredible occasion to be a part of.
‘The fact I went from zero to 100 England caps at one club is definitely something I’m really proud of and I’ve had two Lions tours and 105 appearances for my country while I’m at the place I’ve grown up. That’s meant a lot to me. I might not have reached the peaks of some players but in terms of longevity, I think I’d be up there.’
Northampton have been the Premiership’s form team all season and ended the regular campaign top of the pile before beating Saracens in the play-offs to make the final.
Standing in their way is a revived Bath side who have made the last two just two seasons after finishing bottom of the table.
‘It would be incredible,’ said Lawes, when asked about the prospect of a Northampton title win and what would be a glorious Saints finale.
‘This season has been such a pleasure to be a part of. It’s been fantastic. That really is the most rewarding thing about this season – the fact I’ve been able to stay on the pitch, stay fit, and contribute week in, week out. The trophy would be the icing on the cake.’
Lawes believes Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Leinster earlier this season will be good preparation for a crunch Twickenham clash.
Lawes is eyeing a second Premiership title with Saints after previously winning it in 2014
The 35-year-old stated that he wants to be remembered for dedicating himself to the club
On the international stage, Lawes has won the Six Nations with England on three occasions
The home of English rugby is sold out for the final with a crowd of 82,000 expected.
‘We’ve kind of had a dress rehearsal for this game I feel in terms of the magnitude of it with that semi-final with Leinster,’ Lawes said. ‘I really feel that was trial by fire and we understood a lot about ourselves after that game. Hopefully that puts us in really good stead for this weekend.
‘We’ve had a season where we’ve been top of the table pretty much the entire year – that is such an incredible thing to do. The performances the boys have put in, the accolades we’ve generated, the way we’ve held ourselves and the kind of rugby we’ve played is enough for me.
‘It doesn’t mean I’m not going to give it everything I have in the final, but we’ve done ourselves proud regardless.’
Lawes won three Six Nations titles with England, one Grand Slam, and was part of the team that was beaten by South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final.
He won the Premiership with Saints in 2014 and is now eyeing up a second title. Whatever happens, Lawes will depart for France as a Northampton and England legend.
So, how does he want to be remembered?
‘I’d like to be thought of as someone who dedicated themselves as thoroughly as they could and a good servant to the club,’ Lawes said.
Of that, he can rest assured.
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