Winning return to English rugby for Saints legend Lawes

Having joined Sale Sharks from Brive during the summer, Lawes was selected at six for his new club’s PREM Rugby Cup clash with Bath at the CorpAcq Stadium.

And the 37-year-old played the full 80 minutes on his competitive debut as the Sharks secured a 50-28 success.

The dream for Lawes is to make his way back into England contention ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

But he knows he must take it step by step as he bids to show he can still cut it at the top level of the English game with Sale.

“At Brive I don’t think I played more than three weeks on the bounce, and very often it was two weeks,” Lawes told The Guardian.

“So it probably prolonged my career a little bit, going out there and not having to play balls-to-the-wall rugby every single week.

"I wasn’t ready to retire last season. I was still playing really well and still one of the better players in the league. So I thought I’d go one more time.

"You’re a long time retired and I can still move really well so, why not when you’ve still got it in your legs?

“If I play well for Sale I’ll give myself an opportunity to play for England.”

Lawes achieved so much during his time at Saints, helping his boyhood club to win two Gallagher PREM titles.

And he insists he has not thought about his legacy after making the move to Sale.

“I don’t feel nervous,” he said. “I’m not too worried about legacy at this point.

"I’d much rather come back and not be able to make it than not know whether you’ve called time a bit early.

"I’ll give it my best effort and the cards will lie where they lie.”