The powerful Number eight is a former BUCS player of the season and has represented England Students. Lawday, who capped his final year at the University of Exeter as top try-scorer in BUCS Super Rugby in 2016/17, joined the Chiefs that summer. He made his Chiefs debut against Quins at the Stoop in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in the 2017/18 season and scored a try for them a week later against Cardiff Blues.