Lawes rules out England return but would play for British & Irish Lions

Courtney Lawes would find it difficult to turn down the chance to play for the British & Irish Lions again. Photograph: Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile/Getty Images

Courtney Lawes may have retired from international duty with England, but he would play for the British & Irish Lions in Australia in 2025 if asked. The Northampton flanker is one of only five players to have played more than 100 Tests for England, but he is not interested in answering any emergency calls from Steve Borthwick should England’s injury crisis in the back row deepen.

“If, through some kind of fluke, I got another Lions call, I would probably do that,” Lawes said. “But I can’t imagine with the amount of good backrowers we have got in Great Britain & Ireland I would get on the tour anyway.”