Shaun Edwards breaks silence on possible England coaching role and when he expects to make his return
Former France defence coach Shaun Edwards and England boss Steve Borthwick (inset).
Shaun Edwards has revealed that he is open to returning to coaching at international level and is keen to be involved with a Six Nations team.
Widely regarded as one of the best defence coaches in the business, Edwards, who enjoyed a stellar career as a rugby league player, was relieved of his duties with France earlier this year.
He is one of the most experienced coaches in the game, who had a six-year stint with Les Bleus and he was part of head coach Fabien Galthié’s coaching staff since 2020.
Prior to that, Edwards had a successful coaching spell with Wasps from 2001 to 2011, was Wales’ defence coach from 2008 to 2019 and had a similar role with the British & Irish Lions during their 2009 tour to South Africa.
Keen to be involved in next year’s Six Nations
Although his axing from his position with France came as a big surprise, the 59-year-old is determined to return to coaching as soon as possible and said he is hopeful of finding a new job ahead of the 2027 Six Nations.
“I’ve been coaching for 25 years and I’ve only had three jobs in that time,’ Edwards told the Daily Mail. “Wasps, Wales and France. The Six Nations is my tournament.
“It’s what I judge myself on. I love the history of it. I love being involved in it. For me, it’s the best, and it will come around quickly.
“Would I be disappointed if I wasn’t involved next year? Of course I would be.
“Having been the most successful coach in the history of the competition, I’ll be a little bit cheesed off if I’m not.”
Despite representing England with distinction as a rugby league player, Edwards has never been involved with his country as a coach at international level. He has not ruled out the possibility of being part of current head coach Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff.
‘Everybody loves to represent their country’
“I’m a proud Englishman and everybody loves to represent their country, don’t they? I’m no different,” he said.
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Despite being axed from his position with France, Edwards revealed that he does not hold a grudge towards Galthié or the French Rugby Federation.
“There’s nothing but good feelings and I’ve been compensated very well,” he said. “It’s been six or seven very, very enjoyable years.
“I’m OK with how it ended because I’d done my job. France hadn’t won a trophy for 10 years before we all arrived. Since then, they’ve won three out of the last five Six Nations.
“I’m not saying I had a massive influence on everything, but I think I played my part. I think I’ve left them in a better place than when I arrived.”
