Shaun Edwards pens new four-year Wales deal

Shaun Edwards will not be part of Eddie Jones‘ new England coaching staff after the former Rugby League great agreed a new four-year deal with Wales.
Warren Gatland‘s assistant coach, who has been part of the the coaching set up across the bridge since 2008, was out of contract and rumoured to be on Jones’ wishlist.
During his career with Wales the national side have won three RBS 6 Nations titles, including two Grand Slams and reached the semi-final and quarter-final of the 2011 and 2015 World Cup respectively.
The former Rugby League playing great, who captained England in both League and Union at schoolboy level, began his coaching career in Union alongside Gatland at London Wasps in 2001, where the duo won three consecutive Premiership titles and the Heineken Cup during the four seasons they were together.
Edwards committed his future to Wales with a four-year deal after the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and has repeated that act in 2015.
He said: “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract with the Welsh Rugby Union and to continue to be part of an environment I really enjoy working in.
“As a coach it is fantastic to work alongside such a dedicated and talented group of players and to be part of a strong management team.
“Warren has assembled a great team off the field and it’s a great environment. I get to work alongside some of the best coaches and management in the world and alongside some of my best friends in the game Rhys Long (WRU Head of Analysis) and Paul Stridgeon (WRU Consultant Head of Physical Performance).”
“For me it is great to have signed through until 2019, but as I always have done, my focus is always on the next match and the next competition, which for us is the Six Nations.”
WRU Chief Executive Martyn Phillips commented: “It is extremely positive for the WRU and the national squad to announce we have secured Shaun’s services for another four years.
“Under Warren the national squad have assembled an outstanding management team and Shaun is a vital part of that team.
“Shaun has shown great loyalty to Wales since he came into the role back in 2008 and as the squad prepare for their next campaign and looking further ahead to the next four year cycle it is important they have the structure and resources in place.”