Decorated defence coach Shaun Edwards has revealed that his offer to work with England at next year's Rugby World Cup was declined by head coach Steve Borthwick. Edwards, who recently concluded his successful tenure with France, had expressed his willingness to contribute to the England setup even in a minor role.
"I had a good chat with Steve over the phone," Edwards told Rugby Union Weekly. "I said to Steve he can make me assistant kit man and I'll be there, I'll be ready for work." Edwards stated that Borthwick was honest in his assessment, explaining that he was satisfied with his existing coaching staff and the team's progress.
Edwards is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished defence coaches in rugby. His career highlights include three Six Nations Grand Slams with Wales, three Six Nations titles with France, and numerous domestic honors with Wasps. His playing career also saw significant success in rugby league with Wigan and Great Britain.
This is not the first time Edwards has been linked with the England men's coaching team. The Rugby Football Union had approached him in 2006 and 2008, and informal talks occurred in 2021. However, a move never materialized.
Borthwick has confirmed his coaching team for the future, with Richard Wigglesworth overseeing defence, supported by Byron McGuigan and Joe El-Abd, who are set to continue their roles through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Edwards also shared insights from his brief involvement with England's women's team, the Red Roses. He noted the team's resilience during a match against New Zealand where they made 310 tackles but still secured a victory. He found the team's pre-match atmosphere more joyous compared to the men's teams he has coached, suggesting that a more relaxed approach might be beneficial.
Edwards expressed surprise that he has not yet secured a head coach position with a Test side, believing he was a strong candidate for the Wales job in 2019 before Wayne Pivac was appointed. He ultimately chose to focus on his work with France.