Shaun Edwards - Where will he end up? The Blues?

[Cofi]

Talk today that Peter Thomas wants him as part-time defence coach for the Blues. This would be a good move: keeps him part of the Wales set-up as well. What's the likelihood of this happening?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not sure - I think it's a case of who offers him a contract first
It'll either be:
a) Full time with England
b) Full time with Wales
c) Part time Wales/Blues

 

[SelimNiai]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15713308.stm

Looks like we keep him. In yo faces RFU!!

 

[Cofi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15713308.stm

Looks like we keep him. In yo faces RFU!!

Beat me to it with the link! Really pleased about this development.

 

[dullonien]

Awesome.

 

[Saintjay]

Beat me to it with the link! Really pleased about this development.

A welshman pleased about having to rely on English talent?. To be honest having lost three games at the world cup and Wales having not done much since 2008, you can have him

 

[Draggs]

A welshman pleased about having to rely on English talent?. To be honest having lost three games at the world cup and Wales having not done much since 2008, you can have him

Cheers bro. Very kind of you.

 

[Saintjay]

Cheers bro. Very kind of you.

It's ok I am a bitter and twisted Saints fan living in Wales, so Im going to have it rammed down my throat for a week or so,

 

[Draggs]

It's ok I am a bitter and twisted Saints fan living in Wales, so Im going to have it rammed down my throat for a week or so,

At least you have some sense!

Really am glad that Shaun stayed on. He and Gatland seem to work very well together and that was probably the key reason. I would like to see a new attacking coach, I think Jonathan Davies would be a decent option. Thinking outside of the box, Iestyn Harris could be a decent consultant, having experience in union and league.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

​

EDWARDS STAYING WITH WALES

​

Shaun Edwards will be retained as the Wales national squad assistant coach for at least the next four years, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed today after concluding negotiations to re-sign its highly sought after defence coach.

Edwards will remain at the side of head coach Warren Gatland up to and including the 2015 Rugby World Cup and, under the new deal, will now also be a part of the WRU National Academy system and so be able to pass on his considerable expertise to the players that will form Welsh rugby’s international future as well as its present.
Edwards joined the WRU national squad coaching team in 2008 on a part time bais and, alongside Gatland and fellow coaches Rob Howley, Robin McBryde and Neil Jenkins, oversaw Wales’ RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam in his debut season as an international coach.
The former Rugby League playing great, who captained England in both League and Union at schoolboy level, began his coaching career in Union alongside Gatland at London Wasps in 2001, where the duo won three consecutive Premiership ***les and the Heineken Cup during the four seasons they were together.
In 2009 the pair, with the WRU's blessing along with Howley and Jenkins, coached the British & Irish Lions on tour to South Africa under head coach Sir Ian McGeechan.
Once Edwards returned from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand which saw Wales reach the semi-final stages for only the second time in their history, negotiations with WRU Chief Executive Roger Lewis intensified as rugby institutions around the globe expressed their interest in his services.
"I concluded negotiations with Shaun over the weekend and am extremely pleased to be able to announce we have secured his services for the WRU up to and including the Rugby World Cup in 2015,†said Lewis.
"We have an outstanding team of coaches and back room staff working under WRU Head Coach, Warren Gatland, and Shaun's role as defence coach within that team is something quite unique.
"Talks began informally and discreetly in New Zealand with Shaun, and have continued over the past two weeks.
“I am particularly pleased to add that in addition to his extended senior national team duties under Warren, Shaun will also be working with WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon, within the WRU National Academy.
“Shaun will work with the Wales U20's, 18's and 16's. This is part of our strategy to ensure our coaches have influence over our elite players early in their development.
"Under the terms of the contract Shaun will be released one day a week, save Test match weeks, to work with an English Premiership club.
“However I have also negotiated the opportunity for Shaun to also work at times with Welsh Premiership clubs, which is particularly exciting for this level of our game.
"Our structures are in place both on and off the field to take us up to and beyond the Rugby World Cup in 2015, all underpinned by sound financial management.

“The Welsh rugby public, who have been so loyal to us, all can look forward to the next four years with great anticipation."

WRU Media

 

[McTallshort]

would rather have Ellis to be honest but no doubt the RFU will cock up appointing him too.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

would rather have Ellis to be honest but no doubt the RFU will cock up appointing him too.

Wondered when this excuses would come in.

 

[Cofi]

A welshman pleased about having to rely on English talent?. To be honest having lost three games at the world cup and Wales having not done much since 2008, you can have him

Mate, if English talent off the pitch can help us win on the pitch, I'll be happy. So, yes, I'm very pleased! <_<

On a separate note, if you're living in Old Colwyn, forget the Saints and come down to Caernarfon and watch a proper team - if you do, I'll buy you a pint. Go on, do an Edwards, come and join us!!

 

[Me 1]

A welshman pleased about having to rely on English talent?

Ah, his name is Edwards, some Welsh in there somewhere

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Edwards isn't specifically a Welsh name, though - It's not as if his name is Gethin Llyr Jones

 

[McTallshort]

Wondered when this excuses would come in.

No excuse Ellis is the more successful coach at international level, simple

 

[Ozzay]

Very happy

 

[TRF_Cymro]

No excuse Ellis is the more successful coach at international level, simple

:lol:

Whatever. Funny how its only now some 10 years after leaving England that he is being touted for a position, if he was that good then why has he not been considered earlier?

By successful ... wondered if you considered who's team has leaked the most tries, the French sides have progressed further in some competitions but Wales defence has been pretty good because of Edwards. So its not a case of simple.

 

[McTallshort]

He (Ellis) has come out and said he would be interested since his contract ran out in France. Over the time he has been in France, the French have been for the most part the team to beat in the NH. Shaun Edwards has had mixed results with Wasps/Lions/Wales and as I have said in another article do question how good he is. Wales have had some dire results while he was been in place and think the relative success at the WC (wales did lose 3 games) has overblown his credentials.

 

[Draggs]

I get the feeling that Edwards will become head coach after 2015.
Lets see how he does until then, of course.