{"id":802827,"date":"2026-10-14T23:48:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T23:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/802827\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T23:48:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T23:48:11","slug":"england-snub-why-steve-borthwick-rejected-chance-to-appoint-shaun-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/802827\/","title":{"rendered":"“England snub” \u2013 Why Steve Borthwick rejected chance to appoint Shaun Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Borthwick<\/a>‘s failure to bring Shaun Edwards into England<\/a>‘s coaching team has raised fresh questions. And the Six Nations stats make grim reading for the England boss.<\/p>\n

Edwards has helped Wales and France win seven Six Nations titles, as well as four Grand Slams. Borthwick has yet to win the title in four attempts.<\/p>\n

Now, Edwards has joined Argentina ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, did England miss a golden chance to sign one of the best coaches in the game?<\/p>\n

Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel<\/a> and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.Why didn’t Steve Borthwick appoint Shaun Edwards?Edwards has long been linked with a role in England’s coaching team<\/a>. Yet the former rugby league star has never coached England’s men’s side.Speaking to BBC Sport<\/a>, Edwards said he had never received a formal offer.<\/p>\n

He made it clear that a club or union would need to approach him first. That call never came.<\/p>\n

England already have a defence coach in place, while Borthwick has kept faith with his current staff.<\/p>\n

Edwards has now agreed to join Argentina until the end of the 2027 World Cup. The move was confirmed by Sky Sports<\/a>on October 9.<\/p>\n

Could Shaun Edwards have caused a power struggle?<\/p>\n

One big question remains. Would Edwards have been happy to work under Borthwick?<\/p>\n

The 59-year-old is no ordinary assistant coach. He has worked with Warren Gatland and Fabien Galthi\u00e9, who both gave him key roles in their coaching teams.<\/p>\n

Edwards is known for his passion, high standards and fierce approach to defence. He also has a track record few coaches can match.<\/p>\n

England, on the other hand, have seen several coaches leave under Borthwick.<\/p>\n

Aled Walters and Felix Jones both left their roles in 2024. Their exits raised questions about life behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

Adding a coach with Edwards’ status could have changed the balance of power.<\/p>\n

Would Borthwick have welcomed such a strong voice, or would it have led to a clash?<\/p>\n

There is no proof that fear of a power struggle stopped the move. But it is a fair question to ask.<\/p>\n

Shaun Edwards vs Steve Borthwick: Six Nations record<\/p>\n

The stats tell quite a story.<\/p>\n

Edwards has worked with Wales and France across 19 Six Nations campaigns. In that time, he has helped win seven titles.<\/p>\n

Borthwick has led England in four campaigns without winning one.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

The Edwards win total and rate are from our earlier calculation and still need a final check.<\/p>\n

That gives Edwards a lead of more than 22 percentage points.<\/p>\n

Of course, there is one key difference. Edwards has worked as an assistant coach, while Borthwick is the man in charge of England.<\/p>\n

Even so, the gap in success is hard to ignore.<\/p>\n

Edwards won four titles with Wales in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2019. He then helped France win three more in 2022, 2025 and 2026.<\/p>\n

Borthwick’s best Six Nations finish came in 2025, when England came second. But things went badly wrong this year.<\/p>\n

England’s Six Nations nightmare<\/p>\n

England won just one match in the 2026 Six Nations. They beat Wales but lost to Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France.<\/p>\n

The defeat to Italy was a huge blow. It was England’s first loss to the Azzurri.<\/p>\n

England finished fifth in the table, their worst Six Nations finish since Italy joined the event in 2000.<\/p>\n

The RFU then launched a review of the poor results.<\/p>\n

According to BBC Sport<\/a>, the review found faults in England’s attack, discipline and accuracy.<\/p>\n

Borthwick kept the backing of the RFU, but the pressure is now on to get results.<\/p>\n

RUCK verdict: Did England miss a trick?<\/p>\n

Seven Six Nations titles. Four Grand Slams. Two nations. Shaun Edwards has a CV most coaches would love to have. And England never made him a formal offer. That seems like a missed chance.<\/p>\n

Would Edwards have turned England into world beaters overnight? Of course not.<\/p>\n

Borthwick also deserves credit for reaching the 2023 World Cup semi-finals. But his Six Nations record tells a less happy tale. Just 10 wins from 20 matches. No titles. And a fifth-place finish in 2026.<\/p>\n

Edwards, by contrast, has won trophies with both Wales and France. Now Argentina will get the chance to work with him.<\/p>\n

Borthwick must prove his current coaching team can take England forward. If results fail to improve, the choice not to pursue Edwards may look even worse.<\/p>\n

Have your say: Should England have appointed Shaun Edwards?<\/p>\n