Shaun Edwards says England rejected his offer to join coaching staff

Shaun Edwards says England head coach Steve Borthwick turned down his offer to join the men’s coaching staff for next year’s Rugby World Cup, saying he was happy with the current set-up.

Edwards, 60, told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast he had spoken to Borthwick by phone and offered to take any role. “I said to Steve he can make me assistant kit man and I’ll be there, I’ll be ready for work,” he said.

Borthwick told him he was satisfied with his staff and how things were going, Edwards said. England’s coaching team for the 2027 tournament in Australia is already in place, with Richard Wigglesworth overseeing defence, supported by Byron McGuigan and Joe El-Abd.

Edwards left his role with France earlier this year and has since taken a short-term consultancy role with England’s women before [committing to Argentina through the 2027 World Cup](https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cm9dz5e19jxjo).

A highly decorated defence coach, he won three Six Nations Grand Slams with Wales and three Six Nations titles with France. England have been linked with him for years, but he has not worked with the men’s team.

England’s form has fluctuated over the past two years: a 12-Test winning run ended against Scotland in February, followed by five consecutive defeats. They have since beaten Fiji and Argentina and face Australia, Japan and New Zealand in November, before a Nations Championship play-off.