Lawes is targeting a Six Nations Championship call-up by England

Northampton Saints rising star Courtney Lawes has become the latest player to agree a new contract and commit his future to Franklin's Gardens.

The 20-year-old forward broke into the Saints team two years ago and made his full debut for England in the autumn international against Australia.

Lawes said: "I was always going to stay at the club. It's a great place to be at the moment in every way.

"It's also good to play for your home town club in front of your own fans."

He added: "Sometimes I stop and think about how far I've come in a short time, from schoolboy rugby to England.

"But I'm not dazzled by it. I keep a level head and I'm concentrating on playing good rugby for the Saints."

Lawes was a key member of England's Under-20 team that finished second in the 2009 Junior World Championship and earned promotion to the Saxons before Martin Johnson picked him in the senior squad at the end of last year.

He now hopes to regain an England place in the current Six Nations Championship.

"Courtney has developed very quickly into being a good rugby player," commented Northampton's director of rugby Jim Mallinder.

"But he's still very young and we believe there's more improvement to come. He has spent a lot of time with [Saints forwards coach] Dorian West on developing as a player, and he still wants to continue working.

"Courtney has come up through the ranks of the club and is someone other young players in the Northampton area can aspire to follow," Mallinder added.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version