Will Greenwood names five players England must start the 2023 Rugby World Cup with - Page 4 of 5 - Ruck

Will Greenwood names five players England must start the 2023 Rugby World Cup with

#4. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

  • Age: 33
  • Position: Lock, Flanker
Courtney Lawes, Captain of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

Greenwood wrote: “Getting better and better with age. High levels of performance are a given now. He really doesn’t deviate below an eight out of 10.

The old moniker of enforcer does not do his rugby justice any more. He is an all-court, ball-handling six. Back-door offloads come easy to him now. And when he hunts you down, he rarely misses.

“Cracking at breakdowns. Been a joy watching him get better and better with age.”



Fast Courtney Lawes Facts:

  • He has featured for England in ten successive Six Nations campaigns
  • Lawes didn’t receive an email checking his availability for the British & Irish Lions 2021 tour because it was sent to an old email address.
  • Lawes and wife Jessica have four children – Nell, Teddy, and twin boys Otto and Hugo

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