Courtney Lawes will not answer a ‘SOS call’ even if England face a back-row crisis during Six Nations… but flanker is ready to play for the Lions on tour to Australia in 2025

• Courtney Lawes retired from England duty after the World Cup in France 
• Steve Borthwick facing  aback-row crisis with four players out injured
• The 34-year-old flanker has played in the Lions’ last five Tests

Courtney Lawes is not going to reverse his decision to retire from Test rugby, even if England are facing a back-row emergency during the Six Nations – but he is open to playing for the Lions again.

The 34-year-old Northampton flanker and modern-day icon announced at the end of the World Cup last month that he was stepping down from the international arena. 

But, on Tuesday, he revealed that he would make an exception, if it meant one last southern-hemisphere crusade with the great and the good of the British and Irish game.

First of all, England will have to look elsewhere for cover, as Steve Borthwick ponders who can fill the void, with the likes of Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Lewis Ludlam and Jack Willis all currently on the casualty list. Asked if he would answer an ‘SOS call’, father-of-four Lawes said: ‘I am done, to be honest.

‘I didn’t stop playing internationally because I thought I couldn’t play or couldn’t get in the team, I stopped playing because I need to be here for my family. I want to be here for my little ones and that hasn’t changed. It is just my luck that we’ve got a back-row crisis when I am actually fit, because normally I am part of the back-row crisis! But I have hung up the old boots.’

Courtney Lawes will not answer ‘SOS call’ even with England facing a back-row emergency

The 34-year-old flanker has played in the Lions’ last five Tests in Australia and South Africa

However, he would be willing to go with the Lions to Australia on their 2025 mission to take on the Wallabies. 

Having appeared in the famous touring team’s last five Tests, Lawes said: ‘If I got another Lions call, I would probably do that. That is two years away, and because it is in Australia, I would definitely bring them (family) out for the whole trip. But I might not be playing rugby then, who knows? We will see what happens.

‘Playing for England is special to me as well, but playing for England you’re at home for two months, then you are away for two months, then you are home and you never really get a chance to settle in and create any structure in life for you and your kids. A Lions tour is once every four years and it just a different occasion.

‘I can’t imagine, with the amount of good back-rowers we have in Great Britain and Ireland; that I would get on the tour anyway. I won’t be playing internationally and you can’t test me on that stage. But if, through some fluke, I did get the call, I would probably go; to complete the set. I’ve done two (Lions tours) and doing Australia, which is one of my favourite places to tour, would be cool.’

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