Courtney Lawes, the legendary England and British & Irish Lions flanker, is being tipped for a remarkable international comeback. His new director of rugby at Sale Sharks, Alex Sanderson, has boldly backed the 37-year-old to not only return to the England squad but to be in peak condition for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Lawes, who retired from international duty after the 2023 tournament, is currently playing in France with Brive. However, his move to Sale next season has reopened the door for England, with Sanderson convinced the veteran has plenty more to give at the highest level. "We can get him to a World Cup in great form, in good shape," Sanderson stated, dismissing concerns about Lawes's age by highlighting his durability and current performance levels.

A fifth World Cup appearance would be a stunning achievement, adding to a career that includes 105 England caps, two Lions tours, and the captaincy of his country. Sanderson believes the powerful pack Sale is assembling will provide the perfect platform for Lawes to showcase his world-class abilities back in the Premiership.

Lawes is a marquee part of a significant recruitment drive at Sale, joining fellow experienced internationals like Joe Marchant, Alex Lozowski, and Welsh props Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis. This infusion of talent signals Sale's ambition to build a squad capable of challenging for top honors.

With Sale's European campaign over and their league play-off hopes fading, Sanderson is now focusing on personal motivations to drive his team through their final six matches. This Sunday brings a highly charged fixture against Saracens, the club where Sanderson spent 17 years as a player and coach. The memory of a humbling 65-14 defeat in October, which Saracens commemorated with a social media video, still stings. "I'm still hurting from the result down there," Sanderson admitted, setting the stage for a fiery and motivated Sharks performance as they look to settle the score.