Lawes backed to recover

Northampton Saints lock Courtney Lawes will be ready for the start of the upcoming campaign despite suffering an elbow injury.

The England second-rower endured a frustrating season last term, with injuries hindering his opportunities with both Northampton and England in the Six Nations. Added to that the 23-year-old has been forced to go under the knife to resolve an elbow injury sustained in pre-season training but the club is confident he will be ready for the start of the campaign. A representative from the Saints told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo: "Courtney has had an operation on an elbow injury and is rehabbing well." The Franklin's Gardens outfit get their Aviva Premiership season underway on September 1, when they make the tough trip to the West Country to face Gloucester.