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Toulon address rumours surrounding potential Courtney Lawes move
By Josh Raisey
With his contract at Northampton Saints ending at the end of the season, Toulon have quashed any rumours linking the England great Courtney Lawes with a potential move to the Top 14, saying they have never even spoken to him.
The French giants took to X on Thursday to deny any reports that the 34-year-old will be on his way to the Cote d'Azur at the end of season, emphatically stating that they have not made any contact with him.
The club wrote: "RCT denies this information. Toulon never offered Courtney Lawes a contract, nor even spoke with the English third row about a possible signing."
The Saints have made a spate of signings over the past month, including Lawes' second-row partner at Franklin's Gardens Alex Coles. Lawes is not one of those players to sign a new deal yet, which will be a concern to Saints fans, particularly as he retired from international rugby after England's World Cup campaign.
Nobody would begrudge the 105-cap England international seeking a payday in France as he nears the end of his career though, but it will seemingly not be at the Stade Mayol. With representing England now not a concern, the lock is no longer shackled by having to play in the Gallagher Premiership. A lucrative move abroad may therefore be desirable for Lawes, and there will be plenty of clubs scrambling to sign him.
Northampton have already seen a number of stars make the move to Toulon over the past 18 months, including Dan Biggar midway through last season, and Lawes' former England second-row companion David Ribbans, who moved after the World Cup.
Lawes has been in sensational form since returning from the World Cup, helping the Saints climb to the top of the Premiership and make an unbeaten start in the Investec Champions Cup, where they beat Toulon in December.
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Latest Comments
Agreed. As a Saffa I have much respect for the ABs. I also have to say given any option I would ONLY prefer to lose to ABs. To lose to England is probably the most embarrassing think to happen to either of us.
There was a time when both of us lost to England and we both hated it. Thankfully those days are behind us. Kudos to you guys, kudos to ABs. But dear old BS seems to hate us Boks. No idea why.
Go to commentsI got the sense that holding him to it was kickback from SB and the rfu smarting at being jilted quite so soon, so unexpectedly and so publicly.
Seem to remember that they spoke to Gustard before appointing Joe and you really have to think he would have come in at a higher level?
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