Shaun Edwards, the mastermind behind France’s rock-solid defence, has dropped a tantalising hint that he could be open to a return to either England or Wales as a potential head coach.
With the Welsh Rugby Union still on the lookout for a new boss after Warren Gatland’s departure during their underwhelming Six Nations campaign, the door is wide open for Edwards to make a dramatic comeback.
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Having previously held talks with England in 2022 before opting to stay on with France, the 58-year-old is now being linked with the role of replacing Steve Borthwick after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Edwards, who served as Wales’ defence coach from 2008 to 2019, was quizzed about the prospect of returning to Wales in an interview with the Daily Mail. His response was nothing short of intriguing for fans across both England and Wales.
“Any role interests me in the future, because I want to coach for as long as possible, particularly in international rugby,” Edwards said.
He continued, “I’ve proved myself as a head coach, with a team (Wasps) that won the Heineken Cup, the Premiership, and the Anglo-Welsh Cup. I know that, with my experience and the knowledge I’ve gained from working with people like Fabien Galthié and Gats, I’d be more than capable.”
Edwards exuded confidence when asked about stepping into a head coach role again, but he remained open-minded, adding, “It doesn’t bother me. As long as I’m in a job where I’m motivated, have good players to work with, who are highly motivated themselves, I can do both – assistant coach or head coach.”
In a previous interview he doubled down on his desire to coach England or Wales in the future. He wrote: “I will always keep an open mind about coaching England, or maybe returning to Wales, but now my sole focus is on France.
“My French language skills aren’t good enough to be a head coach, so for now I’ll be continuing as defence coach.
“At some point in future I’d like to make that step up to head coach at international level. I’m 56 years old and I’d like to coach into my 70s,”
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Best Rugby Tacklers in History (Ranked 10-1)
BEST RUGBY TACKLERS:
10 Levani Botia – “La Machine”
Try shifting Levani Botia off the ball at a breakdown — it’s like tackling concrete. One England player described it as “hitting a wall.” Before their 2023 World Cup clash with Fiji, England even assigned a player to mimic Botia’s defensive dominance in training.
That says it all. Nicknamed “La Machine” and “Demolition Man”, the Fijian back-rower is relentless in contact. His balance, timing, and brute strength turn every breakdown into a battlefield. In the chaos, Botia is the immovable force.
9 Eben Etzebeth – The Stone-Cold Enforcer
There’s no mistaking that frame — over two metres of South African steel. When Eben Etzebeth hits, people stay hit. His tackles combine timing, intimidation, and pure physical authority. Whether it’s a World Cup final or a wet-night Test, he never steps back.
Etzebeth brings a terrifying calm to collisions — ice-cold eyes, tank-like power, sniper-like precision.
8 Willem Alberts – “The Bone Collector”
Willem Alberts didn’t just stop players — he broke their momentum, their confidence, sometimes their bones. Fans called him “The Bone Collector”, and with good reason. At 120 kilograms, the former Springbok flanker delivered the kind of hits that made crowds gasp and attackers think twice.
There was no finesse in his tackling — just raw, thunderous impact. Every collision was a message: don’t run this channel again.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit – The Relentless Workhorse
Some players make big hits; Pieter-Steph du Toit makes all of them. His work rate borders on inhuman — 28 tackles in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final alone, earning him Man of the Match and another World Rugby Player of the Year award. He doesn’t rely on brute force alone.
Du Toit reads the game like a general, shutting down danger before it blossoms. Quietly ruthless and endlessly durable, he’s the heartbeat of the Springbok defence.
6 Jerry Collins – The Gentleman Destroyer
When Jerry Collins tackled, the world stopped for a second. The late All Black flanker hit with such force that opponents often stayed down to gather their senses. Yet away from the field, he was humble, gentle, and deeply respected — a warrior with a warm soul.
That contrast defined him: ferocity between whistles, kindness beyond them. Collins played with total commitment to the black jersey. Gone too soon, remembered forever.
