THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY...
France gain could be Wales and England loss as coach Edwards plots a fresh start
SHAUN EDWARDS is on first-name terms with most of the regulars at his local pub, Connolly’s, in Chiswick. ‘All right Tom, all right pal?’ he says, acknowledging one of them in his thick Wigan accent.
‘ Back to normality now?’ asks Tom. Edwards replies: ‘A little bit! A bit different to Tokyo!’
Normal service has resumed but not for long. It is lunchtime in the unpretentious Irish bar, which serves meals for under a tenner, and Edwards is getting ready to carry out the school run for the first time in four months.
He has checked out of t he Japanese hotel rooms of the World Cup and returned to the comfort of his flat in west London, where he has lived since 2002.
Most of his downtime has been spent catching up with friends and family in familiar surroundings. Even during his 12 years as Wales coach, Edwards would commute from Chiswick to Cardiff but, as of next Sunday, he will begin a new job with France and plans to relocate his family to the warmer shores of Perpignan.
‘I’ll miss Chiswick,’ he says. ‘I love it here. I love this pub. Great people. Everyone chipped in to pay for a funeral for one of the guys recently. It’s that kind of place.
Technically I’m still employed by Wales until November 30 but my missus booked a holiday to France so we l ooked at where we’re potentially going to live.
‘There’s a lot of Wigan lads in the Perpignan area with the Catalans Dragons. My daughter met some of their kids there and they were running around enjoying themselves. That’s where we’re looking.’
Asked if it ever crossed Edwards’ mind to seek a job 20 minutes away, across the river at Twickenham, he laughs. ‘Fifteen minutes on a good day!’ he says. ‘France came in with a guaranteed four-and-a-half-year deal straight away.
‘I’ve got two kids to look after. I’ve been a professional since 1983 — when I was 16 — and you can tell if someone really wants you when you’re negotiating. I’d be excited to coach England one day but someone has to really want you.
‘I didn’t get an absolute offer from England but there was talk. I’m a realist and I get on with what’s in front of me. I don’t dream about this job and that job. I’m 53 and I like to think that I’ve got 15 years left in coaching, health permitting.
‘Look at NFL, a lot of their best coaches are mid 60s. Bill Belichick is 67. There’s a lot of potential in France and there’s the excitement of a home World Cup in 2023.’
Results of this year’s World Cup are still sinking in. Wales lost 19-16 to South Africa in the semi-final in Yokohama, leaving Edwards with a career record of four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals.
‘The coaching group, the players and people like JR the kitman have been together a long time,’ he says.
‘JR was pretty emotional after we lost to South Africa because it was a big chance for us. It’s an emotional game rugby. You make friends and a lot of those guys remain friends for the rest of your life.
‘My only regret with Wales is not getting to a World Cup final. The Welsh people were unbelievably good to me. They treated me as one of their own and we weren’t able to give them that ultimate game.
‘It was so near yet so far. We’ve lost in three World Cups now by a total of eight points. One point in 2011, four points in 2015 and three points this time. Elite level sport is small margins.
‘ To have eight points in three world Cup exits shows you’re competitive. I’d like to think we did a decent job and that Welsh rugby is respected around the world.’
Edwards has been one of Warren Gatland’s closest lieutenants. They helped Wales re-emerge as a force in i nternational rugby. It is a formula that has been in place since the earliest days in Chiswick, where they first paired up at Wasps before moving across the border.
‘It’s funny because when I was watching Catalans Dragons train last week they were doing a drill we did at Wasps years ago,’ says Edwards.
‘ I texted Warren saying, “You won’t believe what they’re doing”. He texted me back straight away saying, “Sometimes the old ways are the best”.’
Edwards himself has forged his reputation as the most successful defence coach in international rugby. The rugby league legend, with a passion for boxing, has an uncompromising image but his players are presented with a different character.
‘ I probably get that from my mother!’ he says. ‘She’s small and fiery — the person in the world I’m most scared of!
‘Honestly, it’s three or four years since I last went nuts at half-time. That was when we played England in 2016. They were all over us. We weren’t being decisive. Generally the lads have given it everything. I’m a people person. At least, I like to think I am. Without being a soft touch, obviously.’
Soon enough, the French will find out for themselves. Some say they are in for a shock. Edwards’ first game will be against local foes, England, in Paris on February 2. A few weeks later, he will be lining up against Wales in Cardiff at his home away from home. Only time will tell if both nations are left to rue allowing Edwards to move.
‘Our first match is against the second- best team in the world,’ says Edwards.
‘My focus is on winning the next match. If France beat Wales, I won’t celebrate too much. I’ve got a lot of respect for Wales and the Welsh public. I won’t be throwing up my arms in the air.
‘I’m a professional, so I’ll be doing my job to the best of my ability. I’ve been having a few French lessons. Li s t ening to a f ew CDs. I’m determined to speak in French.
‘To be honest, when I coach I don’t actually speak that much. A lot of it is about drills and repetition of drills under fatigue. Repetition, repetition, repetition.’
‘THERE WAS NO
ABSOLUTE OFFER BY ENGLAND...
THERE WAS TALK. BUT I’M A REALIST’