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England back row Courtney Lawes to join Brive - report
By Ian Cameron
Former England back row Courtney Lawes is set to join Pro D2 side Brive - according to reports in France.
This news, as reported by Midi Olympique, marks a major coup for the Corrèze club. Although the contract is not yet to be made official, Lawes has reportedly agreed to join the side which currently reside in sixth on the ProD2 table.
A separate Midi Olympique story on Sunday highlighted that Brive has taken a decisive lead in acquiring Lawes. The Northampton veteran's contract is due to expire in June and had explored options in Brive, Aix-en-Provence, and Montpellier.
Of these, he received written offers from all three, but an aggressive campaign by Brive has apparently won the Englishman's signature.
Indeed, the 34-year-old toured Provence's facilities and engaged in talks with staff last week and apparently has discussion on the potential of a one or two-year contract. Despite their keen interest and the presence of the likes of Jimmy Gopperth and former Saints teammate Teimana at the side, Lawes appears to have chosen Brive.
At Brive, he will link up with former Wales No.8 Ross Moriarty and Ireland centre Stuart Olding.
Lawes, who retired from England duty after an impressive Rugby World Cup 2023, maintained his blistering form in club colours and was central to Saints’ unbeaten run in both the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup during December.
It will be the end of an era at the English club, which Lawes has called home his entire professional career. He lifted both the European Challenge Cup in 2009 and the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2010 with Saints, before a Heineken Champions Cup Final followed in 2011. He was also instrumental in Northampton’s greatest season to date in 2014, with the side claiming their first ever Premiership title and a second Challenge Cup trophy within eight days of each other.
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Latest Comments
Perenara is super woke, the treaty of long ago is irrelevant to a game of rugby in Italy. By referencing it and claiming the countries going through tough times is clearly because Perenara doesn't agree with the democratically elected government of New Zealand that people from all ethnicities voted for. Perenara is making it divisive and political despite many of his team mates that wouldn't agree with his decision. The Allblacks saved this year's worst performance to combine it with the most divisive haka statement. Perhaps it's overdue now for NZ rugby to leave the haka for home games only, ensure that only the players that want to do it are included and never again have 'insertions' added by political activist players.
Go to commentsI expected a larger win than this and the ABs were off slightly whilst the rested Italians were well up for this and gave a real committed performance
Frustrating but a lot of those ABs forwards have done huge minutes this tour and Italy are not the side from the World Cup
Remember they beat wales and Scotland in the 6N
Drew with France and lost to England by 3
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