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Defence guru says Borthwick declined his England offer

By AFP
Tuesday 3 Nov 2026
CARDIFF, WALES - FEBRUARY 21: France defence coach Shaun Edwards greets Welsh photographer Ben Evans emerges from the tunnel see during the France Captains Run ahead of the Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at Principality Stadium on February 21, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

REACTION: Defence guru Shaun Edwards has claimed his offer to work for England at the Rugby World Cup in Australia next year was turned down by head coach Steve Borthwick.

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Edwards left his post with France earlier this year and, after a short-term role with England’s women’s side, the 60-year-old signed up to work with Argentina until the end of the World Cup.

“I had a good chat with Steve over the phone,” Edwards told the BBC. “I said to Steve he can make me assistant kit man and I’ll be there, I’ll be ready for work.

“He was very, very honest with me and I thanked him for that.

“He said he was happy with his staff and the way things have been going, and I respected him for that.”

Edwards is one of the most successful defence coaches in Rugby Union, having won three Six Nations Grand Slams during a 12-year stint with Wales before helping restore France to three Six Nations title triumphs.

The Englishman previously won two European Champions Cups and four English titles during his time with Wasps, initially as a defence coach before taking over as head coach.

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Edwards, a hugely successful Rugby League star with Wigan and Great Britain in his playing days, has long been linked with a coaching role within the England set-up.

Borthwick, however, appears to have settled on his backroom staff for the World Cup, with Richard Wigglesworth overseeing defence, supported by Byron McGuigan and Joe El-Abd.

England, who lost to eventual champions South Africa in the 2023 World Cup semifinals, have endured a run of fluctuating results in the past two years.

A 12-Test winning streak across 2025 and 2026 was followed by a painful run of five successive defeats earlier this year.

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But England most recently beat Fiji and Argentina and now face Australia, Japan and New Zealand at Twickenham in the latest leg of the Nations Championship before the tournament concludes with a finals weekend in London.

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