THE NEWS HAS come out of left-field in Wales that Shaun Edwards is in the running to be the next Ireland rugby coach.
Wales online, and the Western Mail, are reporting that Edwards, currently signed up as Wales’ defence coach until the 2015 World Cup, is being considered by the IRFU for the role recently vacated by Declan Kidney.
The 46-year-old former rugby league star has an impressive coaching CV, as defence, backs and head coach, that includes two Heineken Cups, three Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams.
Edwards has enjoyed a productive working relationship with Warren Gatland for a decade but the Kiwi has chosen England’s Andy Farrell as defence coach for the Lions tour to Australia.
Credit: Western Mail [h/t Aaron McAllorum]
Edwards [46] was part of the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa and admitted that his resolve had been ‘tested’ at his non-inclusion with the coaching set-up this time around.
He said, “Hearing that I was not going to be part of the set-up in Australia made me want to chuck the whole lot in.
“There were ideas of turning my back on union, going back to league, possibly even leaving the country to re-learn my trade as an assistant coach.”
Speaking to TheScore.ie yesterday, Leinster scrum coach Greg Feek said the province ‘was chuffed’ that head coach Joe Schmidt was also linked with the Ireland job.
