Shaun Edwards set for sudden, shock exit from France team

Shaun Edwards is set for a shock departure as France’s defence coach, only two months after winning a seventh Six Nations title, according to reports across the Channel.

L’Équipe is reporting that Wigan-born Edwards, who is one of the finest defensive coaches in the modern era, looks set to be replaced by Gerald Bastide, who was part of Guy Noves’s coaching staff between 2015 and 2017 and is set to take over.

Bastide, who worked for Perpignan, has been in charge of the defence of the French women’s team since last January, and according to the leading French publication, he will return for the A international against England A in Vannes on June 19.

The news that Edwards, who won 37 major trophies in his highly decorated 17-year playing career with Wigan Warriors, London Broncos and the Bradford Bulls before starting a coaching career with Wasps in 2001, will cause shockwaves around the world.

Edwards was promoted to head coach four years later and played a key role alongside Warren Gatland in turning the club into a trophy-winning machine, winning the Heineken Cup and three Premiership crowns before they linked up with Wales and the Lions.

He became Fabien Galthie’s defence coach in November after 12 years with Wales, where he won the Six Nations four times and claimed three Grand Slams, and was due to be under contract until 2028.

Seen as the best coach that England have never had, he has spoken to the RFU several times about joining the Twickenham payroll, most recently in 2022, before he penned an extension to his France contract in November 2022.

So there is now likely to be a massive push for the RFU to get the 59-year-old onto Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff in any capacity before the 2027 World Cup in Australia, despite Richard Wigglesworth currently overseeing their defensive operation.