Former France defence guru joins John Mitchell's coaching team
NEWS: Shaun Edwards has taken up a short-term coaching consultancy role with the Red Roses.
The 59-year-old, who has a long-standing competitive coaching relationship with head coach John Mitchell, joins ahead of Saturday’s Test match against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium and will be with the squad until the end of the WXV Global Series.
Wigan Warriors and Great Britain Rugby League legend Edwards has had a trophy-laden coaching career in Rugby Union, enjoying European and domestic success with Wasps before winning four Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championships with Wales over a 12-year period.
He was appointed France’s Defence Coach in 2020 and helped Les Bleus to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022 and back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026.
Edwards’ role will allow the Red Roses to tap into his vast coaching experience while the former British & Irish Lions coach has expressed his openness of learning from a world-leading environment in the women’s game.
Mitchell said: “Shaun and I have competed against each other in the international coaching arena for a very long time and I am very respectful of what he has delivered. I’m looking forward to learning and working with him.
“Since his time with France ended, we have had a conversation about our game, and he expressed an interest in working in an international women’s setup for the first time. He has a huge amount of respect for the Red Roses and what we stand for; he sees it as a privilege to join our environment.
“His coaching credentials are exceptional and his experience at the highest level of the game speaks for itself. Defensively, Sarah Hunter is relishing the opportunity to learn from him, alongside the rest of our coaching group, as we head into another exciting Test match against New Zealand. Shaun will add to the programme and provide incredible value to the girls over the remainder of the WXV Global Series.”
