Shaun Edwards joins Red Roses for New Zealand Test and WXV run
Shaun Edwards has joined England's Red Roses on a short-term consultancy deal until the end of the WXV Global Series.
The 59-year-old has never coached in women's rugby before. He will support head coach John Mitchell and work alongside defence coach Sarah Hunter, who leads the team's tackling and defensive shape work The Guardian.
Mitchell described Edwards's coaching credentials as "exceptional". Edwards will work with Hunter through the current block of fixtures rather than replacing her BBC.
His first assignment is a home Test against New Zealand. The match is at Allianz Stadium at Twickenham on Saturday, with a crowd of more than 50,000 expected The Guardian.
It is a heavyweight fixture. New Zealand were the last team to beat the Red Roses, in the 2022 World Cup final. England's 39-game winning run ended recently with a 26-26 draw against Canada.
After New Zealand, England head on the road. The squad will travel to Canada and the USA for the WXV Global Series, a round of international matches played without silverware on the line. England face Australia in their opening fixture of that series.
Edwards is one of the most decorated coaches in the men's game. As a player he was a rugby league great with Wigan Warriors and Great Britain, playing in the 13-a-side code where teams have six tackles to make ground before handing over the ball.
He switched codes to coach rugby union, the 15-a-side game with contested rucks, scrums and lineouts, at Wasps in 2001 as defence and backs coach. He was promoted to head coach in 2005 and led the club to Heineken Cup and Premiership titles.
He moved to Wales as defence coach in 2011. Working alongside head coach Warren Gatland, he helped Wales win four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams for winning every match in a single championship.
He became France defence coach in 2020 and added three more Six Nations titles. He left that post in June after more than six years, following a restructure of the backroom staff by head coach Fabien Galthié.
England have named a 36-player squad for the WXV campaign. It includes 25 World Cup winners, plus three uncapped players.
What makes this stand out is the timing. England do not need rescue. They need an edge against the very best, starting with New Zealand in front of a huge home crowd. Mitchell has turned to a coach who has spent two decades building defences that win tournaments.
