Courtney Lawes admits he’s ‘p***** off’ despite winning Premiership title with Northampton in his final match for the Saints

Wearing a set of ski goggles, a topless Courtney Lawes declared himself ‘p***** off’ despite sealing a glorious finale to his Northampton career by lifting the Premiership title.

Lawes had played his 283rd and final Saints game prior to his summer move to Brive. He said: ‘I couldn’t believe we’d won it as we tried so hard to lose it. 

‘At the end of the game I was p***** off and couldn’t quite believe it. I don’t think we could have played worse. But we got over the line.

‘I owe the club so much. It won’t be the last time I contribute something. I’m just really happy to have delivered for the club what it deserves. I’m ecstatic.’

Although he will be playing his club rugby in France’s second division next season, Lawes still hopes he can be involved in what would be his third Lions tour in Australia in 2025.

The 35-year-old says it was their worst performance but is relieved to have got over the line

Bath were heroic after Beno Obano was sent off for a high shot on Juarno Augustus and came so close to sealing a backs-to-the-wall victory. ‘It makes it very difficult to play with 14 men,’ said Johann van Graan, Bath’s coach.

‘Beno is disappointed. But we are a circle of men and we win together and we lose together. I’m incredibly proud of the group and couldn’t be prouder to be the coach of this club.

‘We gave it our best shot. We were certainly tough to beat. Congratulations to Northampton. It was a ding-dong game.’