‘He has an aura’: Why Shaun Edwards joined the Red Roses

Shaun Edwards’ arrival in Red Roses camp had been several weeks in the making.

Freshly released from his commitments with France after six years working with Fabien Galthie’s team – a stint that yielded a Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam and back-to-back Championship victories – the 59-year-old was a free agent for the first time in over four decades.

Those Six Nations successes only scratch the surface of Edwards’ career. As a player he captained Wigan Warriors in their most famous era and as a coach enjoyed domestic and European success with Wasps, before a 12-year stay as Wales defence coach. Given that pedigree, you would have to think he had plenty of suitors.

“He has an aura, he has a presence,” Mitchell said after announcing his matchday 23 to take on the Black Ferns this Saturday at Allianz Stadium. “He is already developing really good relationships with the girls. It is again an opportunity for the younger coaches to learn off an experienced assistant coach.”

Upon his arrival in Red Roses camp, Edwards had already learned every player’s name and even asked John Mitchell for a list of the language used around camp. He did not want his first week with a new team to feel like a first week.

“He can see why we’ve had good success in the way that we go about our processes,” Mitchell said “But he’s really, at the end of the day, just a guy that’ll just chip in here and there. He’s seen so many moves in defence.

“He also understands that defence is never perfect. So I certainly have picked up very quickly that he focuses on people’s strengths a lot more than their weaknesses. It’s up to them to choose whether they want to take the advice.”

Edwards’ immediate future had been the subject of much speculation after his exit from France. Plenty felt that his future was at Allianz Stadium, but with Steve Borthwick’s men’s team rather than the reigning world champion Red Roses.

Earlier in the week, Marlie Packer revealed that part of Edwards’ interest came after a comment from his late mother, Phyllis. His mother also provided the inspiration behind his move to rugby union.

In his first days in camp this week, the 59-year-old told players how his mother’s admiration for the Red Roses had fuelled his desire.

“Our biggest question around him coming into the programme was why?” Jess Breach said.

“I think a lot of coaches come into women’s teams to potentially bunny-hop and progress into male teams. Not that we don’t like that, but we want people to be here because they want to be here and they want to make the programme better and they want us to be better. I think he does want that.

“He explained the story about his mum and I think it is important and it touched a lot of us, like you do want to be here and you do want to make us better.”

So, the players were won over. With the Red Roses on a short-term consultancy basis until the end of WXV Global Series 2026, the other members of Mitchell’s coaching staff will have the opportunity to learn from Edwards – particularly defence coach Sarah Hunter.

“I am dragging plenty out of him and I am sure he is stealing a few things as well, which is great,” Mitchell said. “As coaches we always want to find something a little bit different that can grow the players or refreshes how you go about things. We are very, very fortunate to have a person of his ability.”