Norhtampton are doing everything they can to persuade Courtney Lawes to carry on at Franklin’s Gardens, but should the former England captain be tempted by one of the offers he has received from France, a potential replacement has been lined up.
He is already on Northampton‘s books and a regular this season since joining the club after the demise of London Irish. Tom Pearson, capped by England last summer, made his name as a marauding openside flanker, powerful on the charge and strong over the ball, but he has been encouraged, by club and country, to consider giving the blindside a go.
Northampton have been working on his defence and the set-pieces, the lineout especially, to see whether he would fit into the position where Lawes has established himself as a dominating presence.
“I do not know what position I will be playing this season, next season or a few years’ time,” said the 24-year old Pearson, who scored a hat-trick against Bayonne on Friday and is in the mix for England’s Six Nations squad which will be announced this week.
“I have been doing a lot more lineout work and I have spoken to different coaches about moving to the blindside. I have the scope to put on a bit of weight and as I am one of the heaviest 7s in the league, it would probably mean me becoming a 6. I am not opposed to that and it is a long-term option.
“I have had chats here and there with (England head coach) Steve Borthwick since the World Cup around how Iam getting on and what I am working on. He is keen for me to be good in both positions and it helps to be versatile. Blindside is something I would like to do in the coming years, but no one will take the shirt off Courtney.”
Lawes has been at Northampton his entire senior career, making his debut in 2007. He would like to see out his career at the Gardens, but having taken a pay cut this season said he expected to be paid what he is worth in what will probably be his final contract.
“We are desperate to keep Courtney and the fact he is playing so well after the World Cup shows how much he has got left,” said Northampton’s director of rugby, Phil Dowson. “He has always loved playing here and he is enjoying his rugby.
“We are in negotiations but loads of clubs are interested in him because he is top class, absolute box office. If I was him and his agent, I would talk to everyone. I am trying really hard to keep him on board for another year but market forces are at play and we have to see what we can do.”
Pearson has settled into Northampton after a tumultuous summer when his first club, Irish, folded. He was called into the England squad to prepare for the World Cup and was capped against Wales in Cardiff, only to miss out on the 33 for France.
“June was difficult,” said Pearson. “I got the news about London Irish on the Tuesday and was out of my house on the Thursday. Before I could process what had happened, I was training with England. It was a blessing in disguise as I could get on with that rather than worry about what had happened and what the future held.
“It was also good to then sign for Northampton and get peace of mind. My grandfather is among my relatives who live here and I thought their style of play would suit me and that I would enjoy playing for them, which I am. I am glad I made the move.
“London Irish held a special place in my heart as my first club which gave me a shot out of university and I felt it personally when it went wrong.
Something special was building there with some of the young guys coming through. It was a shame that potential was not able to develop, but that is a closed chapter now.”
Dowson was delighted to secure Pearson’s signature with a number of other clubs pursuing him and believes the flanker has bounced back from the various setbacks he endured last year.
“He had a really good connection with London Irish and for them to go that was was a big upset for him. Then he had the disappointment of not making the World Cup and then he came here after every club in the Premiership had sold him their dreams.
“It was a roller-coaster but now he has his feet under the table and is playing regularly. You can see what an outstanding athlete he is and he is very coachable.
“He was excellent for Irish and we want him to continue that while developing other parts of his game, such as the lineout where he had not done much work because he was so good running lines in the midfield. It is about becoming more rounded.”
Pearson is one of anumber of players hoping for an England call-up this week. “Missing out on the World Cup was disappointing, but my first cap gave me a taste,” he said. “I want some more which means playing well. It also helps if you are in a team that is winning.
“It is an exciting time for the game here with so much young talent coming through and there is no reason why England cannot do well in the Six Nations.”
