Edwards swaps England for Argentina
NEWS: Argentina confirmed the addition of Mario Ledesma and Shaun Edwards to the Los Pumas coaching staff ahead of the second leg of the Nations Championship in November.
Ledesma will serve as forwards and defence coach, respectively, until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Ledesma returns to the national team, which he led as head coach between 2018 and 2022, following his work as a consultant in the area of play and as head coach of the URBA Under-17 team.
*Also read: New Zealand v Australia, Bledisloe Cup – Teams and Prediction
Edwards, meanwhile, arrives after serving seven years as defence coach for France, with whom he won the Six Nations in 2022, 2025, and 2026.
Felipe Contepomi, head coach of Los Pumas, spoke about the two new additions: “Mario and Shaun arrive at Los Pumas with enormous international experience.
“They know what it means to compete at the highest level and can contribute a lot to the team.
“With the World Cup just a year away, they will help us continue to grow as a team and prepare in the best possible way for what’s to come.”
#SPOTLIGHT: Extra pressure on All Blacks
https://t.co/k3klgvFkio— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) October 9, 2026
Regarding his return to the national team, Mario Ledesma commented: “ I am honoured and very grateful for the opportunity to work with Los Pumas again.
“I am eager for us to get together and start working with the players and the staff.”
Shaun Edwards said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Felipe Contepomi, his coaching staff, and the Argentinian team at the end of this month and through to next year’s World Cup in Australia.
“I’ve always admired the skill and quality of Argentinian players, and I look forward to contributing my international experience to the team over the next year.”
1 YEAR TO GO
The countdown is on until the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever kicks off in Australia. Go All Out and secure your seats with tickets now available!
