Courtney Lawes will leave Northampton Saints at the end of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season to join French side CA Brive.
The ex-England international has spent his entire career with his boyhood club but has decided to put pen to paper on a “transformational” deal that he admits will “likely be the last contract” he ever signs.
Lawes, 35, is renowned as one of the best flankers in the game and has been instrumental for Saints since making his debut in 2007.
He has gone on to make 274 appearances in the black, green and gold over 17 seasons and earned 105 caps for England before announcing his international retirement following last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Lawes had always maintained his desire to finish his career as a one-club man but said the offer from France was too enticing to ignore.
“I want to make it clear that I really would have liked to end my career as a one-club man, and Saints did absolutely everything they possibly could to make that happen – our conversations were all very positive,” said Lawes, in a statement on Northampton’s website.
“But, first and foremost, I have to make sure that my family and I are in the best position possible for my retirement, which will be in the next couple of years.
“This is likely to be the last contract I’ll ever sign, and the offer I have received to play overseas will be transformational for my family, so there was no way I could turn it down and I took the decision to move away from Northampton.
“I’m so grateful for everything that Saints has given to me. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to play so long for my hometown, and the supporters have been amazing through it all – in both the good times and the bad.
“I’ve been through it all with Saints and I just hope that my efforts on the pitch have reflected my appreciation for the club. It’s obviously incredibly sad for me to be leaving, but ultimately, I know I am leaving Saints in really good hands on and off the pitch with the players, coaches and staff we have.”
During his time at Northampton, Lawes lifted the Challenge Cup in 2009, the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2010, and was instrumental in a first-ever Gallagher Premiership title in 2014.
He leaves with the Saints top of the Premiership table by seven points from Harlequins and on a club-record 10-game winning streak.
They are also through to the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup, where they will face Munster at home.
“I know that they will continue to push on and I hope they can become the best side in England for an extended period of time,” Lawes added. “I’ll always be a massive supporter of Northampton Saints.
“I’ve always given everything I have to the club, and that’s only going to continue for these final few months.
“We’ve got a brilliant opportunity to go and do something amazing this season, and it would be fantastic to leave on the high note of winning a trophy, so I’ll be giving it my all to achieve that.”
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