Courtney Lawes is set to be inducted into the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) Hall of Fame, with the Northampton Saints legend the latest name to join the illustrious list at next month’s ceremony.
With 278 Saints appearances to his name to date, as well as some 105 England caps, the 35-year-old flanker will be honoured at the RPA Awards 2024, taking place on Wednesday 29th May at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London.
Five-time British and Irish Lion Lawes is set to inducted following a glittering career in the English game – with the flanker having announced his retirement from international rugby at the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Lawes made his debut in Black, Green and Gold in 2007 and has proven himself to be one of the Club’s most influential players as he continues to play a pivotal role in Saints’ push towards the end of the season before he departs for Brive at the end of the current campaign.
📣 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗣𝗔 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗘 📣
— The RPA (@theRPA) April 24, 2024
Congratulations @Courtney_Lawes, who is being inducted to the RPA Hall of Fame this year 👏👏#RPAAwards #ForOurPlayers
The Saints legend joins an illustrious list of former inductees, including Sarah Hunter (2023), Alun Wyn Jones (2021), Sir Clive Woodward (2018), Jonny Wilkinson (2015) and Jason Robinson (2012).
On receiving this news, Lawes said: “It’s an unbelievable honour to have my career recognised in this way. I never expected to be able to have such a career where people would look on my involvement in rugby with such fond memories.
“ It is honestly what all players dream of and for this I am immensely grateful.”
Courtney Lawes
“I want to say thank you to all my peers for this recognition and to all those people along the way who have helped to make this a possibility for me.”
Christian Day, RPA General Secretary, who played alongside Lawes at Saints, added: “It is difficult to sum up Courtney’s contribution to the English and world game over the last 17 years. His career has been as long as it has stellar, with his playing style evolving over that time to leave him as one of the best – if not the best – flankers in world rugby. This award will hopefully show him how well respected he is by the players that he has played with and against.”
To book your place at the RPA Awards 2024 and to rub shoulders with the past and present heroes of the game, email [email protected] or visit www.therpa.co.uk/rpa-awards-2024.
Inductees into the RPA Hall of Fame are recognised by the RPA Players’ Board as having made an outstanding contribution to the international game.
