Experienced former England utility forward Courtney Lawes has revealed that he is eager to be part of the British & Irish Lions’ squad for their highly anticipated tour to Australia later this year.
The 36-year-old forward, who can play second-row and flanker, currently plies his trade in France with PROD2 side Brive after leaving former club Northampton Saints at the end of the 2023/24 season.
His move to the French club means Lawes cannot represent England, due to RFU policy preventing head coach Steve Borthwick from selecting overseas-based players.
Available for Lions selection despite being based in France
However, that is not the case for the Lions and Farrell has revealed that players based in France – like Lawes and his son, Owen, who plays for Top 14 heavyweights Racing 92 – will be in the selection mix when he picks his squad.
“We’re open-minded about all of that,” Farrell told reporters. “As we start to whittle it down the dynamics become a little bit different, but we don’t know if we’re going to have sufficient players in certain positions where we’re able to get on a plane and somebody could join us for game three.
“We don’t know if a player that fits the bill of being interchangeable, being able to play three or four different positions.
“We could even have a conversation with some clubs over there, they might release them. These things will be ongoing.”
Lawes will be delighted by those remarks as it means he could be selected for the famous touring team for his third successive trip to face one of the southern hemisphere’s heavyweight Test nations.
Made five Test appearances for the Lions
This, after he made two appearances off the replacements bench against the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2017 and started all three Tests against the Springboks in South Africa in 2021.
“Yeah course I would, mate. Abso-bloody-lutely, mate,” Lawes told former England team-mate Danny Care’s Hits Different podcast when asked if he was keen to be part of a Lions tour for the third time.
“It’s a slim chance but if I can get on the tour, I’m pretty confident I can work my way into that team.
“That’s all I want, baby! I want to be the best, as always.”
Farrell has already named his assistant coaches for the tour to Australia, but will name his playing squad on May 8.
👀 READ MORE: 👉 England great ‘gutted’ after Andy Farrell snubs British and Irish Lions legend
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/courtney-lawes-issues-candid-response-to-andy-farrell-after-lions-boss-leaves-door-open-for-french-based-stars
