The Saints star was released on Tuesday night and returned to Franklin’s Gardens on Wednesday to prepare for Saturday’s Aviva Premiership game against Worcester Warriors.
But later that day it was revealed that Wasps lock Joe Launchbury had been ruled out of this weekend’s Six Nations showdown with Ireland with a hamstring injury.
While Launchbury headed back to his club for treatment, Lawes returned to the England camp as a replacement and could now play a part at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Saints forward had featured in both Six Nations games, coming off the bench in the win at Scotland and starting in the victory in Italy.
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Lawes, who had been axed on his 27th birthday, joins Dylan Hartley and prop Paul Hill as the Northampton representatives in the national squad.