Shaun Edwards joins England’s Red Roses as WXV consultant

Shaun Edwards has joined England’s Red Roses as a consultant until the end of the WXV Global Series and will work with the squad as they prepare to face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. He is already in situ with the team.

The 59-year-old defence specialist left the French men’s set-up in June after more than six years when Fabien Galthié restructured Les Bleus’ backroom staff, and he has not previously held a role in women’s rugby. Red Roses head coach John Mitchell brought Edwards into the group for the remainder of the WXV campaign.

Mitchell said: “Since his time with France ended, we have had a conversation about our game, and he expressed an interest in working in an international women’s setup for the first time. He has a huge amount of respect for the Red Roses and what we stand for; he sees it as a privilege to join our environment. “His coaching credentials are exceptional and his experience at the highest level of the game speaks for itself. Defensively, Sarah Hunter [England’s defence coach] is relishing the opportunity to learn from him, alongside the rest of our coaching group, as we head into another exciting Test match against New Zealand. Shaun will add to the programme and provide incredible value to the girls over the remainder of the WXV Global Series.”

Edwards began his union coaching career at Wasps in 2001 as a defence and backs coach and was promoted to head coach in 2005; the club won the Heineken Cup and the Premiership during his tenure. He moved to Wales in 2011 as a defence coach and worked alongside Warren Gatland.

While with Wales he won four Six Nations titles, three of them Grand Slams, and he later signed as France’s defence coach in 2020, winning three Six Nations titles with Les Bleus. His résumé spans successes at domestic and international levels in the men’s game.

Before turning to union coaching, Edwards played rugby league for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain. His background as a defence coach is the specific expertise the Red Roses have sought to add for the WXV matches.

The WXV Global Series carries no trophy, so Edwards cannot deliver silverware in this role; England’s 39-game winning streak ended last Saturday when they drew 26-26 with Canada. England will face the Black Ferns—who were the last side to beat the Red Roses in the 2022 World Cup final—in front of more than 50,000 this weekend.

Edwards will remain with the Red Roses through the end of the WXV Global Series and will travel with the squad to Canada and the USA next month.