In August 2018, Shaun Edwards made a verbal commitment to returning to his former club in rugby league, Wigan Warriors, once his contract as Wales‘ rugby union assistant coach comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2020 World Cup in Japan. It looked to be a perfect match for Wigan: a former player returning as one of the best international coaches in the world to usher in a new era of success.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, Edwards hinted at his desire to continue to coach in rugby union and that the switch to Wigan in rugby league wasn’t set in stone nor had he signed a contract. Then, in April this year, Edwards confirmed that he would not make good on his verbal agreement to join Wigan in 2020.
As it stands, Edwards looks set to be the most sought-after coach in rugby league and rugby union after this autumn’s World Cup, but where will the Englishman hailed on many occasions as the best in the world end up once his current Wales contract concludes?
Edwards’ tremendous success as a coach
Shaun Edwards started his coaching career with the London Wasps in rugby union in 2001. Starting as the defence and backs coach, Edwards was involved in three successive English Rugby Union Championships, the Heineken Cup. He then became the head coach in 2005 when current Wales head coach Warren Gatland left, leading the Wasps to the Heineken Cup, English Rugby Union Championship, and Anglo-Welsh Cup.
In 2008, Edwards and Gatland teamed up as the assistant and head coach of Wales’ international rugby union team. Initially, Edwards was working part-time with Wales, maintaining his role with the London Wasps. In late 2011, he left his role with the Wasps to stay on with Wales as his sole job.
The duo has yielded incredible success for Wales, with Edwards’ defensive coaching regularly cited as the core of their triumphs, achieving Grand Slam victories in the Six Nations in 2008, 2012, and 2019 and the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. In the most recent Six Nations, Wales conceded a mere seven tries and total of 65 points against – 35 fewer than their next closest opponent.
Warren Gatland has done a tremendous job to continue the revival of the Wales rugby team, but Shaun Edwards has also been crucial to the success of Wales over the last decade. He’ll be sticking around for the 2019 World Cup and is a major reason why Wales are among the favourites at 7/1 to win the tournament in the sports betting, just behind the 6/1 Ireland, 9/2 England, but a fair bit off of perennial favourites New Zealand at 11/10.
Hailed as one of, if not the best in the world defensively, Shaun Edwards has earned the right to be a wanted man and have his choice of teams when his contract expires. There’s yet the chance that he may stay on with Wales while also take on a head coach role back in rugby league if the 52-year-old fancies the task.
Will Edwards remain in Wales?
Despite the Edwards’ situation, much of Wales’ coaching future is certain. Wayne Pivac will be Warren Gatland’s successor as head coach after the World Cup in Japan, with Stephen Jones, Jonathan Humphreys, Paul Stridgeon, Byron Hayward, and Neil Jenkins confirmed as members of the next coaching team.
There is, however, some room for Shaun Edwards to reclaim a role in the set-up if he wants it. Wales have made their intentions known: if Edwards doesn’t want to return to domestic coaching, they will want to hold talks to keep him on as their coach. It makes absolute sense for Wales to stay open as Edwards’ defensive mastery has been one of the foundations of their recent successes.
However, reports claim that Wales are going about re-signing him in the wrong way. Despite the new and renewed coaches being given four-year deals to see them through the next World Cup window, Edwards has only been offered a two-year deal, which has reportedly left the Englishman disgruntled.
If Wales don’t manage to hold onto their prized defensive coach post-World Cup, Shaun Edwards certainly won’t be short of offers. The Leicester Tigers approached him earlier in the season, but the WRU blocked the offer of a short-term deal.
There is a lot of interest from domestic clubs, but it would seem foolish of Wales to not simply give Edwards a four-year deal and keep him on board.
