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Watch: Courtney Lawes' final Northampton dressing room speech
By Liam Heagney
New Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton have posted to social media the post-game speech given by departing skipper Courtney Lawes last Saturday after he led the club to glory at Twickenham.
The Test-level retired England forward is joining Brive in the Pro D2 in France next season and the 35-year-old signed off on his 17 years at Saints with a dressing room address after Northampton clinched their hard-fought 25-21 win over 14-man Bath.
It was the club’s first title win since 2014 and emotions ran high following the final whistle that confirmed their win. The celebrations momentarily quietened in the dressing room, though, so that Lawes could have his final say as Northampton skipper to the squad. Here is the speech that unfolded:
Lawes: I want to redo my leaving speech.
Floor: I’m not leaving.
Lawes: I am f***ing leaving. No listen, the job is done now and I wanted to make sure back then that we understood the job wasn’t done. But boys, this team is the best Saints team I have been a part of. The amount of potential, Not today, today we were *****. But I will go from being a player that loves playing with you boys to a supporter that loves watching you. And I cannot wait to see where you take this team in the next few seasons. If anybody needs anything from me.
Floor: Money!
Lawes: There will be interest. But no, in all seriousness boys, my line is open. It has been my pleasure, my honour to see you boys grow into this team and to be a part of it is something I will never forget. Thank you. Thank you all.
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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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