Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant have been told by England’s coaching staff that their place in the upcoming autumn international squad hinges on strong performances for Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership. Steve Borthwick recently announced the roster for his three‑day training camp that kicked off on Sunday, and both Lawes and Marchand were absent despite their recent return to the English top flight with Sale, which technically makes them eligible for selection.
The head coach has indicated that he wants to assess how the two players, who spent the previous season with French clubs Brive (Lawes) and Stade Français (Marchand), adapt back to the English game before reinstating them in the national side. Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth has now put the matter into plain English: the pair must demonstrate they can excel in the Premiership before earning a place in the England squad. "We want as much quality as we can have in the league but they are going to have to go and play well," Wigglesworth said when asked about the seasoned centurion Lawes and the versatile midfield option Marchand. He added that selection is a zero‑sum game – for every player brought in, someone else must be left out – and that Lawes and Marchand will need to outperform the competition to secure a spot.
Wigglesworth praised Lawes’s experience, describing him as an "England legend" who has been in excellent form during pre‑season. He noted the excitement surrounding Lawes’s return to the Premiership and expressed personal enthusiasm at seeing him back on English soil. The defence coach also mentioned a chance encounter with Marchand, who lives close to his own home, and said it was "great to have him back" after his stint in France. Under current World Rugby regulations, only players who are actively competing in the Gallagher Premiership are eligible for national team selection, so both Lawes and Marchand have technically re‑opened the door to international duty by signing with Sale Sharks.
Lawes, who announced his retirement from international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, now finds himself back in the domestic spotlight, sparking speculation that he could still be in contention for the 2027 World Cup in Australia, even at the age of 38. Wigglesworth emphasized that each player's circumstances are unique and that decisions about where to play are personal. He reflected on his own career, saying, "I couldn't have given up the chance of England because I didn't play as much as loads of people." He highlighted Lawes’s own words: "I've got an itch here and I'm coming back," describing the statement as a powerful declaration of intent. "How good is that as a statement?
'I am coming back because I want to do this'." The coach argued that such determination, combined with Lawes’s wealth of experience, should place him favorably in the selection picture. "That level of determination and the qualities he has should put himself in a good spot. Experience, he has certainly got that.
We are keen to watch him play," Wigglesworth concluded. The broader context for these comments is the upcoming Six Nations Championship, which begins on 6 November, with England scheduled to face Australia on 8 November.
The timing means that both Lawes and Marchand have a narrow window to impress in the Premiership before the national team’s preparatory camp and the first international fixtures. Their performances for Sale Sharks in the early weeks of the season will be scrutinised closely by the England coaching hierarchy, who are balancing the need for seasoned leadership with the desire to reward in‑form domestic talent. For Lawes, the challenge is twofold: to prove he can still meet the physical and tactical demands of top‑level rugby after a brief international retirement, and to demonstrate that his experience translates into tangible benefits for Sale’s forward pack. As a former England captain and a player with over 100 caps, his leadership on and off the field is a valuable asset, but the coaching staff will be looking for concrete contributions – dominant line‑out work, effective ball‑carrying, and a visible impact in the breakdown.
For Marchand, the focus will be on his versatility in the midfield, his defensive reliability, and his ability to create attacking opportunities for the Sharks. Both players have expressed enthusiasm about returning to English rugby. Lawes has spoken about the pull of home crowds and the desire to contribute to the domestic game that shaped his career, while Marchand has highlighted the appeal of playing alongside familiar teammates and under a coaching structure that aligns with England’s strategic objectives.
Their reintegration into the Premiership also offers Sale Sharks a boost in both experience and marketability, as fans are eager to see a former England captain and a dynamic centre back in the club’s colours. In summary, the message from England’s coaching staff is clear: eligibility alone does not guarantee selection. Lawes and Marchand must seize the opportunity presented by their return to the Gallagher Premiership, deliver high‑quality performances week in and week out, and demonstrate that they can add value to the national side ahead of the Six Nations and beyond.
The next few months will be decisive for both players as they aim to convert their club form into international recognition.