‘I wanted to stay’: Courtney Lawes signs new deal at Northampton

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy England international Courtney Lawes has signed a new contract with Premiership club Northampton. He will now prolong his stay at Franklin’s Gardens, having first featured for Northampton in 2007 and gone on to make 263 appearances, and it comes as another boost for the English game following Manu Tuilagi signing fresh terms with Sale. “It wouldn’t have felt right to me to leave now, so I was really keen to continue at Saints for that reason, but also because it’s so important for us as a squad to continue to build on what we’ve done over the last few seasons.” Lawes made his England debut 14 years ago and also toured twice with the British and Irish Lions – to New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa four years later – making five Test appearances. It wouldn’t have felt right to me to leave now, so I was really keen to continue at Saints for that reason Courtney Lawes “His international experience with England and the Lions is almost unparalleled, but off the field he gives our group so much in terms of confidence and leadership.