Shaun Edwards has been unveiled as France’s defence coach as part of a new-look coaching staff for Les Bleus. Edwards confirmed last year he would be leaving Wales after 11 years when his contract expired following the 2019 World Cup and had looked set to return to rugby league as the head coach of Wigan Warriors. Having agreed to take charge from the 2020 season onwards, the 53-year-old backed out of the agreement, claiming the Super League side never produced a contract for him to sign. Having made Wales one of the best defensive units in international rugby during his 11 years with the team, Edwards was a highly sought commodity and has decided to take up a position across the English Channel. Fabien Galthie has replaced Jacques Brunel as France head coach in the wake of their World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Wales and his new backroom staff was unveiled at an event on Wednesday, with Edwards amongst the new faces “I’m happy to join the France adventure alongside Fabien and Raphael Ibanez,” said Edwards. “My goal is to maximize the speed of defence play. This method has already been successful in the past.” Having been part of a coaching team, alongside Warren Gatland and Rob Howley, that produced four Six Nations titles and three Grand Slams, Edwards will hope he can transfer his success to a France side that hasn’t won a Six Nations title in a decade.
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