EDWARDS AGREES TO NEW WELSH DEAL
Shaun Edwards has agreed a new deal as defensive coach of Wales but admits that he did speak with England about a possible role.
The former rugby league international has signed a deal which will see him take up the role on a part-time basis with the Welsh side until 2011. His commitments with Wasps remain the same.
The 41-year-old masterminded the fierce Welsh defence that earned them the Grand Slam in the 2008 Six Nations tournament and Edwards remains determined to continue the work against the best of the Southern Hemisphere.
"We have won the Grand Slam, but now it is time to focus on preparing to face South Africa," said Edwards.
"I am extremely grateful to the managements of both Wasps and the Welsh Rugby Union for giving me this opportunity to work with these two marvellous teams.
"My loyalty to Wasps is undiminished and I have already formed an extremely close bond with the Welsh team and the Welsh fans.
"There has been a lot of speculation about my future, but I have always remained clear on where my loyalties lie.
"The Welsh squad has been great, fast to learn and have given everything asked of them even though that has sometimes been painful.
"There is still a lot of work to be done with the Wales squad, but they are a talented group of players and I am looking forward to the future."
But Edwards also admitted that he turned down an opportunity to join the England set-up, having met with Martin Johnson about a possible role.
"When I met with Martin Johnson this week, any alteration in
course would have been impossible," Edwards told the Guardian.
"The bottom line is that I shook hands with [Wales
coach] Warren Gatland on the deal long before he went back to New Zealand after
the Six Nations."
Edwards was overlooked by the England senior set-up in
January and turned down a position with the England Saxons side to take up a
part-time post under Gatland with Wales.
"Back before Christmas, when Warren asked about joining
up with Wales my focus was on getting the necessary experience of international
rugby to be a realistic candidate for coaching job with the Lions and talks
were well advanced before England came calling with the offer of running their
2nd XV."
Edwards revealed that the Saxons offer did not allow any input into the senior squad, nor to be included in Saxons selection or for him to choose his own coaches.
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