He’s the most decorated Englishman in Six Nations history, a defensive mastermind, and a serial winner—but Shaun Edwards has never coached his home nation.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
Now, the 58-year-old has revealed the emotional reason why he once turned down the chance to join England’s coaching staff.
And with speculation mounting that he could take over from Steve Borthwick after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Edwards’ story is resurfacing—and it’s nothing short of heart-wrenching.
Six Nations royalty
Edwards isn’t just respected in rugby circles—he’s practically royalty. After helping France to another Six Nations title in Paris this past weekend, the former Wigan rugby league star now boasts six championship wins in the northern hemisphere’s biggest tournament.
Four of those came during his time with Wales, where he worked under Warren Gatland for over a decade, winning three Grand Slams and playing a vital role in the legendary 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
Never coached England—here’s why
Despite his incredible success and being born in Wigan, Edwards has never worn an England tracksuit. That’s not for lack of opportunity.
England did approach him—once. It was in 2006, during his time as head coach of Wasps, a period when he was thriving on the pitch but struggling off it.
Edwards had lost his younger brother, Billy-Joe, in a tragic car accident in 2003, just days after the 20-year-old had celebrated his birthday. His brother’s friend and teammate, Craig Johnson, was also killed in the crash. It shook the Edwards family to its core.
“I wasn’t ready”
Speaking to ITV, Edwards opened up about the moment he said no to England.
“I got asked once. That was in 2006, but that was just after my brother had died,” he revealed.
“You do have quite a lot of time off, time to think when you’re in international rugby… I was head coach at Wasps at the time—we had a very good team and I was busy every single day.”
“My mother said, ‘I don’t think you’re ready yet to have so much time to yourself, thinking about your brother’s death.’”
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a man known for his intensity, his precision, and his ability to build champion defences from the ground up.
England’s next boss?
With Borthwick potentially stepping down after the next World Cup, there’s a growing chorus of voices calling for Edwards to finally take the England reins.
If he does, it will be the ultimate full-circle moment for a man whose coaching journey was shaped by both unparalleled success and personal heartbreak.
EDITORS PICKS:
- Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
- Phil Taylor wants to buy football club with pop icon Robbie Williams
- England Draw ‘Easy’ Group for 2027 Rugby World Cup, Set to Face Wales
- England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie signs with Premiership club
- Springbok legend Schalk Burger Names His Four Toughest Opponents
Five Big Names Out of 2025 Lions Tour
The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour kicks off in Australia on July 19, with a three-Test series against the Wallabies. Andy Farrell’s squad will be without several big names due to injury, retirement, or club commitments.
1. Ollie Lawrence – Achilles injury ends Lions dream
England centre Ollie Lawrence was widely tipped to make Farrell’s Lions squad before suffering a devastating injury. The Bath star ruptured his left Achilles tendon just nine minutes into England’s 47-24 Six Nations win over Italy, ruling him out for up to a year.
A Premiership Player of the Season in 2023, Lawrence had become a key figure for Steve Borthwick’s England. His explosive running, defensive solidity, and hard-carrying ability made him a strong candidate for the tour. However, with the Lions series beginning in just over three months, his injury has ended any chance of selection.
Lawrence expressed his disappointment on social media: “Lost for words… That’s not how I imagined my season to end! The comeback is always greater than the setback.”
Surprise Fact: Lawrence was once in Aston Villa’s football academy before choosing rugby.
2. Stuart Hogg – Won’t be considered for selection
Despite making an impressive comeback with Montpellier in the Top 14 after reversing his retirement, off-field issues will rule him out of contention for selection by Lions head coach Andy Farrell, according to RUCK sources.
Surprise Fact: In a tweet, J. K. Rowling insinuated that Hogg was, in fact, a full-fledged Wizard
