Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant have been reminded by England’s coaching staff that they need to demonstrate strong performances for Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership before they can be considered for inclusion in the senior national squad for the upcoming autumn internationals. The recent announcement of Steve Borthwick’s three‑day training camp, which began on Sunday, omitted both players despite their recent return to English club rugby, making them technically eligible for selection. The head coach’s decision appears to be a deliberate move to assess how the pair, who spent the previous season playing for French clubs Brive (Lawes) and Stade Français (Marchant), adapt back to the English game before offering them a place in the national side again.
Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth has now clarified the rationale behind the omission, stating that the England management wants to see the two veterans perform consistently at the highest domestic level before rewarding them with an international call‑up. "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 questioned about the status of the centurion Lawes and the versatile midfield option Marchant. He added that the competition for places is fierce, and that any player hoping to earn a spot must not only meet the baseline standards but also exceed them.
"There are some good players in the room and to pick them you have to leave someone else out, so they would have to go over and above that, I would say," he explained. Wigglesworth also expressed personal enthusiasm about seeing Lawes back in the Premiership. "It's great to have Courtney back. He has unbelievable experience, is an England legend and has been flying in pre‑season, as everyone is.
There is a real excitement about watching him back in the Prem, so I'm enjoying that," the coach said. He mentioned a chance encounter with Marchant, noting that the two players live close to each other and that he had a brief chat with the former England centre. "I have actually bumped into Joe Marchant walking around living quite close to me, so I caught up with him and it is great to have him back," Wigglesworth added.
According to the governing rules of rugby union, only players who are contracted to clubs participating in the Gallagher Premiership are eligible for England selection. By re‑signing with Sale Sharks, both Lawes and Marchant have satisfied this requirement and placed themselves back on the radar of the national selectors. Lawes, who announced his retirement from international rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, has sparked speculation that his return to domestic competition could be part of a longer‑term plan to target a place in the 2027 World Cup squad, which will be hosted by Australia.
At 38 years old, he would be one of the oldest players to feature in a World Cup, but his wealth of experience and leadership qualities could prove invaluable. Wigglesworth emphasized that each player's situation is unique and that personal motivations play a significant role in decisions about international rugby.
"Everyone's case is individual in where you want to play your rugby and what you want to do," he said. "I couldn't have given up the chance of England because I didn't play as much as loads of people. But Courtney has said 'I've got an itch here and I'm coming back'. How good is that as a statement?
'I am coming back because I want to do this'. 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." This comment underscores the coaching staff’s appreciation for Lawes’s commitment and his desire to contribute at the highest level despite his age.
The upcoming Six Nations Championship, which kicks off on November 6, will see England open their campaign against Australia on November 8. The timing of the camp and the subsequent matches means that Lawes and Marchant have a narrow window to impress. Their performances for Sale Sharks in the early weeks of the Premiership season will be closely scrutinised, not only by the England coaching team but also by the broader rugby community, which is eager to see whether the seasoned forward and the dynamic backline player can recapture the form that once made them fixtures in the national side. In summary, while the return of Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant to English club rugby has reopened the door to international selection, the England coaching hierarchy has made it clear that a place in the squad will not be handed out automatically.
Both players must deliver consistent, high‑quality performances for Sale Sharks, demonstrating that they can still compete at the top tier of English rugby. Their upcoming fixtures will serve as the proving ground, and their ability to rise to the challenge will determine whether they earn a spot in the autumn internationals and potentially the future World Cup roster.