Former England captain Courtney Lawes to end rugby career in France with Brive

Courtney Lawes, the ex-captain of the England national team, revealed on Friday his decision to depart from Northampton, the current leaders of the English Premiership. At the conclusion of the season, Lawes will be joining Brive, a French team, as he was enticed by a remarkable offer that promises to bring about significant changes in his career.

Lawes has dedicated his entire 17 seasons in senior rugby to his hometown team and had previously expressed his desire to stay loyal to one club.

However, following his retirement from the England national team after the World Cup in France last year, Lawes has decided to accept a lucrative offer from a French second-tier club.

In a statement released by the club, Lawes mentioned, "I truly wished to finish my career as a one-club man, and Northampton Saints did everything possible to make that a reality - our discussions were all very positive."

Nevertheless, Lawes emphasized the importance of securing the best future for himself and his family as he approaches retirement in the next few years.

Having played 274 games for Northampton and also representing the British and Irish Lions in five Tests,

Lawes acknowledged that the offer to play overseas will have a significant impact on his family's future. Thus, he made the difficult decision to move away from his long-time club.

Following the footsteps of other English internationals, Lawes will be joining a growing list of players making the move to France, including former England captain Owen Farrell, who is set to play for Top 14 side Racing 92 in the upcoming season.