COURTNEY Lawes will leave Northampton this summer to join ProD2 side Brive after 17 seasons at Franklin’s Gardens.
Lawes said Northampton did “everything they could” for him to stay, but the offer from Brive was “transformative” to him and his family.
Lawes, 35, came through the academy and broke into the first team aged 18, going on to make 274 matches while also winning 105 Test caps for England and five for the British & Irish Lions.
“I really would have liked to end my career as a one-club man, and Saints did absolutely ev- erything they possibly could to make that happen,” Lawes said. “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 bad.
“It’s incredibly sad for me to be leaving, but ultimately, I know I am leaving Saints in really good hands on and off the pitch. 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. I��
