SHAUN EDWARDS JOINS RED ROSES COACHING STAFF

Shaun Edwards has joined England's Red Roses coaching staff in a consultancy role for the remainder of the WXV Global Series, head coach John Mitchell has confirmed. Edwards, who has never previously coached an English team, told Mitchell he wanted to work in an international women's set-up for the first time after his role with France came to an end. Mitchell described Edwards' coaching credentials as "exceptional" and said his experience at the highest level of the game "speaks for itself". Sarah Hunter, England's defence coach, is among those set to learn from Edwards during his time with the squad, according to Mitchell. Edwards has already joined the squad this week as they prepare to face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday.

Edwards played rugby league for Wigan Warriors and Great Britain before moving into union coaching at Wasps in 2001, initially as a defence and backs coach. He was promoted to Wasps head coach in 2005 and led the club to Heineken Cup and Premiership titles. He then became Wales' defence coach in 2011, working alongside head coach Warren Gatland, and won four Six Nations titles, three of them Grand Slams. Edwards joined France as defence coach in 2020 and added three more Six Nations titles with Fabien Galthié's side, before leaving the role in June when Galthié restructured the team's backroom staff. In total, Edwards has won seven Six Nations titles as a coach across his spells with Wales and France.

After the New Zealand fixture, Edwards will travel with the Red Roses to Canada and the United States next month for a three-Test tour, continuing his consultancy through the rest of the WXV Global Series. The appointment comes after England's 39-match winning run was ended by a draw with Canada. As the WXV Global Series carries no trophy, Edwards cannot add a piece of silverware to his coaching record through the role. Mitchell said Edwards would "add to the programme and provide incredible value to the girls" over the remainder of the series. The consultancy marks Edwards' first involvement in women's international rugby after a coaching career spent entirely in the men's game.