Courtney Lawes concluded his 17-year career with Northampton Saints by leading the team to a 25-21 victory over Bath in the Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday, June 8, 2024. This win secured his second Premiership winners medal. Lawes will join French Pro D2 side Brive next season but remains hopeful for a third British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 under head coach Andy Farrell.
Lawes, who retired from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup with 105 caps for England, expressed his willingness to be part of the Lions squad again. He previously participated in the 2017 and 2021 series, making five Test appearances.
In the final, which saw Ben Obano of Bath sent off for a high tackle, George Hendy came off the bench for Northampton and set up the game-winning try scored by Alex Mitchell. Hendy’s efforts earned him the man of the match title, while Bath's captain Ben Spencer praised his team's resilience despite the numerical disadvantage.
As Lawes departs, Northampton's director of rugby, Phil Dowson, acknowledged his significant contributions on and off the field, particularly his influence on younger players like Hendy. Lawes leaves a lasting legacy at Northampton, having established himself as one of the greats of English rugby.