Steve Borthwick namechecks new Sale arrivals as 'ones to watch'

Courtney Lawes’ performances in the Gallagher PREM next season will be monitored closely by Steve Borthwick as the England great targets an international comeback.

Lawes retired from Test rugby after the 2023 World Cup but his ambitions of returning to the global stage have been rekindled after he decided to end his two-year spell at French second-tier club Brive to join Sale.

The 37-year-old flanker is not being considered for July’s first phase of the Nations Championship against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina even though he becomes eligible for selection once the Pro D2 season is over.

However, alongside centre Joe Marchant who has also signed for Sale following at spell at Stade Francais, Test centurion Lawes is firmly on Borthwick’s radar for a 2026-27 campaign that leads all the way to the World Cup in Australia.

“I’m certainly looking forward to watching Courtney in the Prem against other players who are eligible, as I am with Joe Marchant,” Borthwick said.

“Watching him in Pro D2, the context is sightly different but I know that Courtney is a proven Test match player and a proven leader.

“Courtney wanting to come back shows what an incredible character and fantastic leader he is.

“When we took the lead against Fiji in the quarter-final of the last World Cup, Fiji threw everything at us. At a critical moment, Courtney stepped up to win a crucial turnover.

“When I talk about character, I’m talking about players who are tough enough to do exactly what the team needs to win that moment.

“Courtney is that type of character and he’s done it so many times for England at the highest level.

“I’m delighted to have a player like that coming back to play in England and there are a number of players at Sale who he is going to be a tremendous influence over.”

While Lawes’ England comeback pursuit will be a fascinating storyline to next season, Borthwick’s immediate task is preparing his squad for a 25,000 mile summer odyssey across three continents.

It opens against South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4, continues with a clash with Fiji in Liverpool and ends in a trip to Santiago del Estero to face Argentina – all on successive weekends.

England are looking to bounce back from their worst ever Six Nations performance which included an historic first defeat to Italy and Borthwick sees the itinerary as an opportunity to test his players’ mettle.

“Three matches in three weeks on three continents is…quite a challenge,” said Borthwick, who will not be splitting his squad at any stage of the tour.

“I’m excited by challenges like this and I’m looking forward to learning even more about the players – who gets enthused and loves a challenge like this and who steps up.

“Each and every time I find out more about the character within this group and what we need to have going forward.”