Shaun Edwards has signed with Argentina for subsequent yr’s World Cup, ending any probability the Wigan-born defence guru will be part of Steve Borthwick’s England set-up.
Edwards, 59, is probably the most embellished coach in rugby historical past and has gained seven males’s Six Nations titles. He left a trophy-laden stint with France earlier this yr and is at the moment working with England’s girls’s aspect on a consultancy foundation.
Edwards being beneath the RFU’s umbrella – albeit on a short-term foundation – had raised the tantalising prospect of him transferring throughout to the nation’s males’s workforce forward of the 2027 international showpiece in Australia, particularly after he told Daily Mail Sport last month he wanted to join the England set-up full-time: ‘I’m a proud Englishman and all people likes to signify their nation, don’t they? I’m no totally different.’
However that gained’t be taking place now. It’s understood Edwards is upset there was no long-term provide to stick with England, although he’s now wanting ahead to a brand new problem in South America.
Edwards will start his work with Argentina in time for his or her Nations Championship video games away to Eire, Italy and France subsequent month. He has gained greater than 50 trophies throughout his taking part in and training profession, and beforehand held profitable backroom roles with Wasps, Wales and the British and Irish Lions earlier than serving to flip France into the northern hemisphere’s dominant drive.
With Argentina, he’ll work beneath the steerage of their head coach and former fly-half Felipe Contepomi and joined by Mario Ledesma, who will work with the workforce’s forwards. Ledesma was beforehand head coach of the Pumas between 2018 and 2022. ‘I’m delighted to hitch Felipe Contepomi, his teaching employees, and the Argentine workforce later this month, staying on by subsequent yr’s World Cup in Australia,’ Edwards stated. ‘I’ve at all times admired the talent and high quality of Argentine gamers and I hope to contribute a few of my worldwide expertise to the workforce over the approaching yr.’
Shaun Edwards, broadly considered top-of-the-line defence coaches in world rugby, has slipped by England’s fingers once more
The 59-year-old has been within the RFU constructing for the previous couple of weeks as a marketing consultant for the Crimson Roses, however he’ll now be part of Argentina
Evaluation: The RFU has shot itself within the foot once more – letting Edwards slip away is a grave mistake
by Alex Bywater
By letting Shaun Edwards slip by their very own web after lastly getting him in an England tracksuit, the RFU has shot itself within the foot a yr out from the subsequent World Cup.
Edwards has a repute for being one of the best on the earth at what he does – and has the medals to show it. It’s barely plausible and bordering on felony that the RFU has not capitalised on what was an excellent alternative to lastly carry Edwards on board full-time with out even having to pay compensation to a different employer.
It’s a grave mistake and represents rugby negligence on the coronary heart of the organisation. Edwards’ aura, expertise, no-nonsense strategies and profitable document would have been excellent for England proper now as they give the impression of being to get again on observe after a stuttering 2026 to date and attempt to meet up with the sport’s main sides South Africa, France and New Zealand. His signing would even have been a great PR play for the RFU.
What a disgrace it’s that the organisation hasn’t had the foresight to do it. It says quite a bit about Invoice Sweeney, the RFU chief govt, and Borthwick as head coach that they haven’t grasped the nettle and provided Edwards a task. It was there on a plate.
Solely this week, England’s present defence coach Joe El Abd confirmed he can be leaving his position after the World Cup, and is predicted to take up a task at French Top14 aspect Clermont Auvergne.
If that is the case, Borthwick ought to have thanked his good good friend and former room-mate on the College of Tub El Abd for his companies, however instructed him in no unsure phrases that if he’s not with England for the lengthy haul, he can transfer on now. El Abd ought to have been gone this month with Edwards changing him.
It is Borthwick’s prerogative to decide on who he desires to work with. But it surely’s not possible to disregard the truth that permitting Edwards to hitch one other of England’s rivals will show to be an enormous error.
Let’s be sincere right here. England’s present set-up is badly underperforming. Earlier this yr, the nationwide workforce – which stays filled with expertise – produced its worst-ever Six Nations with a fifth-place end and a primary loss by the hands of Italy. The atmosphere is completely ripe for shaking up and the present teaching set-up is inexperienced at worldwide stage. Edwards would have been the right addition.
Edwards has introduced in trophies wherever he has been, beginning at Wasps after which bringing glory to Wales (left) and France (proper)
Joe El Abd has simply introduced he’ll depart his position as assistant coach and is predicted to maneuver to Clermont. He ought to have been instructed to go now, with Edwards in to interchange him
Edwards would have challenged Borthwick and his present assistants and made modifications. As an alternative, England’s loss is Argentina’s acquire
He would have challenged Borthwick and his present assistants and made modifications. England’s girls’s gamers have already spoken in glowing phrases of the influence Edwards has made on them even in such a short while. He has achieved that wherever he has gone. Simply consider what Edwards might have achieved with England’s males’s gamers throughout the subsequent 12 months. Alas, these gamers and supporters won’t ever know what might need been.
The RFU are understood to be proud of their males’s teaching workforce, having gained 12 video games in a row in 2025 earlier than what they admit was a poor Six Nations. That was adopted by a summer time of two wins from three matches. There’s additionally a sense on the RFU that altering their backroom workforce a yr out from a World Cup could be disruptive – although, after all, Borthwick himself changed Eddie Jones as head coach simply 9 months earlier than the latest international showpiece.
Edwards not becoming a member of England is Argentina’s acquire. The Pumas have loads of expertise, however typically lack construction and cohesion – qualities Edwards brings in spades, even when there have been recommendations in some quarters he’s not now the drive he was.
Argentina have a comparatively straightforward World Cup job, having been drawn in Pool C alongside Fiji, Spain and Canada earlier than seemingly dealing with Chile, Samoa or Tonga within the final 16 after which Eire or Scotland within the quarter-finals. With Edwards of their camp, you by no means know what would possibly occur for Argentina, who’ve reached the semi-finals in three of the final 5 World Cups.
England have, as an alternative, determined to stay and never twist regardless of Edwards being eager to stick with them. The RFU’s failure to signal Edwards will undoubtedly go down badly with England supporters who have been eager to see him work along with his house nation. They’re proper to be aggravated. What a wasted alternative.
