Lawes has done it all on the rugby field. He has played in a World Cup final, in Lions Tests and won Grand Slams. He captained his country to a series win in Australia.

But signing off with victory over Bath at Twickenham on Saturday would be the perfect way to say goodbye to Saints before he finally makes that move to France.

With Saints, he has won the Premiership, two European Challenge Cups and two Premiership Rugby Cups. He was even given the freedom of the town late last year.

So the question is often asked, is he the greatest Saints player of them all?

His case is certainly a very strong one, both in terms of what he has achieved for club and country as well as what he represents.

Its not something Lawes shies away from. When we asked him if he was happy to be described as the greatest, his reply was: "It's not for me to say, but it has been a target of mine. Before I leave the club I want to be considered at least one of the best-ever players.

"I think it's one of those things that you only go for when it's within your grasp. Once it was there I thought, yes, I want to go for that, why wouldn't you?"

Ultimately it's impossible to compare across different eras.

How can you say if Lawes is a greater player than, say, Dickie Jeeps, Ray Longland or Edgar Mobbs?

But if you're penning Saints' best-ever team on a blank sheet of paper, Courtney Lawes is almost certainly the very first name you would write down.