The former Wales coach left his job with France over the summer, sending shockwaves through rugby

Edwards has long been linked with an England coaching role

Shaun Edwards has spoken publicly for the first time since leaving his role with France.

Despite being one of the game’s most successful coaches – having won a seventh Six Nations title earlier this year – he left his role as France’s defence coach over the summer. The departure sent shockwaves around the sport, leading to speculation over where Edwards would go next.

The former Wales coach is unlikely to be out of a job for much longer, with the man himself vowing he’d like to be involved in next year’s Six Nations.

“I’ve been coaching for 25 years and I’ve only had three jobs in that time,’ Edwards told the Daily Mail. “Wasps, Wales and France.

“The Six Nations is my tournament. It’s what I judge myself on. I love the history of it.

“I love being involved in it. For me, it’s the best, and it will come around quickly.

“Would I be disappointed if I wasn’t involved next year? Of course I would be.

“Having been the most successful coach in the history of the competition, I’ll be a little bit cheesed off if I’m not.”

For years, Edwards has been linked with a job with his homeland, England. It has long seemed an obvious move.

Along with fellow rugby league convert Andy Farrell, there’s a sense that England’s two finest coaches are lost to their own national team.

Farrell did have a spell working with England as Stuart Lancaster’s assistant – only for Edwards to play a part in Wales knocking the hosts out of their own World Cup in 2015.

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But when it has come to Edwards and England, the timing has never seemed right.

He turned down a role with them in 2006 following a family tragedy, before the “insulting” offer to coach the Saxons in 2008.

There was then talk in 2021, but it didn’t materialise into anything.

However, he hasn’t ruled out joining Steve Borthwick’s ticket.

“I’m a proud Englishman and everybody loves to represent their country, don’t they? I’m no different,” he said.

Edwards added that, while friends had joked he looked more relaxed after having more free time in recent months, he found the pressure of international rugby “addictive”.

“When I had no pressure in my life, I was a bit lost, to be honest. I’ve been on gardening leave for a little bit but I’m definitely open to offers now, until I sort out a full-time role.”

On his departure from France, Edwards said he had “no bad feelings” towards Fabien Galthie or France’s governing body.

“There’s nothing but good feelings and I’ve been compensated very well,” he said. “It’s been six or seven very, very enjoyable years.

“I’m OK with how it ended because I’d done my job. France hadn’t won a trophy for 10 years before we all arrived. Since then, they’ve won three out of the last five Six Nations.

“I’m not saying I had a massive influence on everything, but I think I played my part. I think I’ve left them in a better place than when I arrived.”

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