GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP

Premiership implements a new rule

Thursday 27th March 2008

As you were: Edwards is free to continue his negotiations with the WRU

Guinness Premiership clubs have implemented a new rule preventing any of their coaches taking a part-time job with a national side.

The sanction only applies to any England team, and will be applied retrospectively. This means that Wasps coach Shaun Edwards, who is in talks with the Welsh Rugby Union about a three-year contract, will not have to make a choice between club or country.

The England rule was drawn up because Premier Rugby felt that, if a club coach were involved with a national team, from age-group sides upwards, it would give them a potential advantage over rivals because they would be in a position to tap up players.