Shaun Edwards Aims for Rugby Championship After France
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- Shaun Edwards announced his ambition to win the Rugby Championship and expressed interest in coaching the All Blacks, Springboks, or Argentina, as told BBC Radio 5 Live.
- France retained the Six Nations crown with a 48-46 victory over England, giving Edwards his third title with France and a record seventh overall as a coach.
- Edwards has never received an offer to coach England despite calls for the RFU to appoint him, noting that coaching moves require a direct invitation.
- Edwards highlighted that rule changes—such as limiting ruck contests to a single player and one attempt—have shifted the game toward attack, raising typical defensive point thresholds from under 20 to 21‑22 points.
- France conceded 96 points across their last two matches, a record number of tries in the tournament, indicating defensive challenges against top attacking teams like Scotland and England.
- Edwards is known for his defensive expertise, previously leading Wales to four Six Nations titles and a four‑game streak without conceding a try in 2013.
Why it matters: His ambition offers the All Blacks, Springboks or Argentina a defensive upgrade from a coach who has delivered seven titles and reshaped French defence, while England’s refusal to approach him underscores a missed chance to secure a proven defender as the game shifts toward attack.
