Courtney Lawes has revealed that he spent 10 days in hospital after contracting a potentially life-threatening infection that left him in excruciating pain.
The 37-year-old has been absent from action since featuring for Sale Sharks against Glasgow Warriors on October 17, with the former England international now explaining the serious health scare that forced him away from rugby.
Lawes joined Sale this summer following a spell with French side Brive,who he joined in 2024 to bring an end to a remarkable 17-year association with Northampton Saints.
The flanker made his Saints debut in 2007 and went on to become one of the club's most decorated players.
He helped Northampton win the Premiership and European Challenge Cup in 2014 before captaining them to another Premiership title in 2024.
His achievements at international level were equally impressive. Lawes won 100 caps for England after making his debut in 2009, representing his country at four Rugby World Cups and reaching the final in 2019.
He also won two Six Nations titles, in 2016 and 2020, captained England during their 2022 tour of Australia and featured in all three Tests for the British and Irish Lions during their 2021 series against South Africa.
Having initially retired from international rugby following the 2023 World Cup, Lawes subsequently reversed that decision and made himself available for England selection again in 2026.
However, his latest campaign has been interrupted by a frightening infection, which began with what he initially believed were flu symptoms.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby XTRA, Lawes explained how his condition deteriorated rapidly after playing for Sale.
“I had flu symptoms but some really bad muscle pains with it. On the way home, my right arm basically stopped working, so really weird symptoms,” he said.
After initially contacting Sale's medical team, Lawes was advised that he was probably suffering from flu.
However, his condition continued to worsen, with a high temperature and severe muscle pain leaving him barely able to move.
His wife eventually persuaded him to visit A&E, where blood tests revealed dangerously high infection markers.
“My blood results came back and they were like, ‘your infection markers are through the roof, you need to stay in and we need to figure out what is going on with you’.”
Doctors initially struggled to identify the problem, placing him on intravenous antibiotics while attempting to establish the cause of his symptoms.
Four days after arriving at hospital, Lawes was diagnosed with a staph infection, caused by Staphylococcus bacteria entering his bloodstream.
The former England captain believes the infection may have originated from an injury to his foot during a match.
“I think it was from some mong standing on my foot,” he joked. “It ripped up my feet, and it didn’t heel very well, so I think it’s from that.”
The infection left Lawes experiencing some of the worst pain of his life, with his inflammation markers reaching 240 despite the normal level being below five.
“I’m not a dramatic person, I don’t know how you measure pain but in those first five days that was the most pain I’ve ever tolerated,” he explained.
Lawes also revealed just how dangerous the infection could have become had it spread further around his body.
“If you don’t get treated in time and it gets to your heart, your lungs or your spine, it can properly f*** you up,” he said.
“You can obviously die, I wasn’t anywhere near dying, but if it gets to the wrong place it can really harm you.”
After spending 10 days in hospital, Lawes has now begun recovering and is preparing to return to training.
“I’m obviously feeling better, still recovering but we’ll just take it day by day.”
The Sale forward confirmed that he remained on intravenous antibiotics until Thursday, with his return-to-play process now beginning as he looks to put the frightening episode behind him.
