Edwards commits to Wales

Shaun Edwards has signed new contracts with both Wasps and Wales.

Shaun Edwards has signed new contracts with both Wasps and Wales.

41-year-old Edwards has pledged his international coaching future to Wales by signing a three-year contract.

Edwards was in high demand after playing a central role in Wales' Grand Slam campaign and it is understood he met with prospective England team manager Martin Johnson.

But Edwards, the Wasps head coach, confirmed he will be part of Warren Gatland's Wales management team through o the 2011 World Cup.

Edwards will also continue in his capacity as Wasps head coach for the next three years.

The three-way deal between Edwards, the Welsh Rugby Union and Wasps was signed at the club's training ground in Acton on Thursday.

Edwards' immediate focus is Wasps' Guinness Premiership title challenge but in June he will travel with for two Tests against South Africa.

“I am delighted that this deal secures my future with Wales until 2011,” he said.

“We have won the Grand Slam, but now it is time to focus on preparing to face the world champions and what a great challenge that is for us.

“I am extremely grateful to the management of both Wasps and the Welsh Rugby Union for giving me this opportunity to work with these two marvellous teams.

“I can now focus all my energy on achieving a lot more success with both teams on the field where it matters most.

“My loyalty to Wasps is undiminished and I have already formed an extremely close bond with the Welsh team and the Welsh fans.

“There has been a lot of speculation about my future, but I feel very excited about working with my co-coaches and back room staff within the Welsh set-up.

Edwards and Gatland, former colleagues at Wasps and close friends, formed a formidable coaching team during the Six Nations as they transformed Wales from World Cup dead-beats into Grand Slam champions.

Interest from England was understandable as the Rugby Football Union attempt to fill the newly-created team manager's role – which Johnson has been linked with – and another specialist coach.

But the Welsh Rugby Union were always confident that Edwards would remain loyal to Gatland, who offered him a route into international rugby.

“This is an important day for Wales. We are assembling a formidable array of talent to ensure we re-position Welsh rugby at the forefront of the global game,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.

“Shaun Edwards, in a remarkably short space of time, has gained a unique place within Welsh rugby.

“Shaun thoroughly deserves his fast growing worldwide rugby reputation as an outstanding coach.

“He has the capacity, attitude and integrity to make a huge difference to the teams he works with and the focus he brings to his task is legendary.

“We have a formidable coaching team in place under Warren Gatland and they know exactly what needs to be done to achieve the best from this current team.

“This contract with Shaun ensures he and Warren can work and plan towards goals which can be realised through to the next World Cup and that is an exciting prospect for the whole of Welsh rugby.”

Edwards is also keen to be involved on the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa and initially persuaded Wasps to allow him to link with Wales on the basis that it would improve him as a coach.

Edwards is convinced that has happened already.

“We are delighted that Shaun has committed his future to Wasps rugby right through until 2011,” said Wasps chief executive Tony Copsey.

“He knows what has to be done and we know he is the right man for the job who has our total confidence and the respect and trust of the entire squad.

“Throughout the Grand Slam season with Wales he has proved his dual role is workable and I am sure his exposure to international rugby can only help improve him as a coach.

“That is bound to be of benefit to Wasps as well as Wales.”