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 Borth wick since the World Cup around how I am 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."
Esta historia es de la edición January 14, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 14, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
