Courtney Lawes sends message to Andy Farrell over British & Irish Lions call-up

Courtney Lawes says he is ‘absolutely’ available for a third British & Irish Lions tour and is ‘pretty confident’ he could force his way into Andy Farrell’s starting XV in Australia.

The 36-year-old flanker announced his retirement from international duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, bringing an end to a 14-year England career in which he earned 105 caps for his country.

The veteran forward, who is also comfortable playing in the second-row, went on to leave boyhood club Northampton Saints at the end of the 2023/24 season to join Brive.

The move across the Channel took many by surprise considering Brive compete in Pro D2, the second tier of French rugby.

But while RFU policy prevents England boss Steve Borthwick from selecting players based abroad – there is nothing stopping Farrell from taking the likes of Lawes on this year’s eagerly anticipated Lions tour Down Under.

Facing the media on Wednesday, the Lions head coach suggested he was ‘open-minded’ about naming France-based players, including his son Owen, in his final squad.

‘We’re open minded about all of that,’ Farrell told reporters.

‘As we start to whittle it down the dynamics become a little bit different, but we don’t know if we’re going to have sufficient players in certain positions where we’re able to get on a plane and somebody could join us for game three.

‘We don’t know if a player that fits the bill of being interchangeable, being able to play three or four different positions.

‘We could even have a conversation with some clubs over there, they might release them. These things will be ongoing.’

Farrell’s comments will have been music to the ears of Lawes, who maintains hopes of turning out for a third Lions tour.

Lawes first toured with the Lions for the drawn series with New Zealand in 2017, coming off the bench in the second and third Tests against the All Blacks.

Four years later, Lawes was selected by Warren Gatland for the tour of South Africa and started all three Tests of the Lions’ 2-1 series defeat.

‘Yeah course I would, mate. Abso-bloody-lutely, mate,’ Lawes replied when asked if he would be up for a third tour on Danny Care’s Hits Different podcast.

‘It’s a slim chance but if I can get on the tour, I’m pretty confident I can work my way into that team.

‘That’s all I want, baby! I want to be the best, as always.’

Farrell unveiled his coaching team for Australia this week – after the Six Nations drew to a close – and the 49-year-old is due to name his squad for the series on May 8.

Brisbane stages the opening Test match of the tour on July 19, before the Lions head to Melbourne and Sydney for the second and third Tests on July 26 and August 2 respectively.

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