GATLAND: I’M SICK OF THIS, SHAUN
Wales boss calls on defence guru to finally sort his future
WARREn Gatland is ‘ sick’ of the speculation surrounding Shaun Edwards’ future, and says it risks becoming a distraction to Wales ahead of the World Cup.
The Kiwi head coach announced a 42-man training squad for the tournament in Japan yesterday, then admitted that the uncertainty about Edwards’ plans was becoming a source of frustration. Gatland’s English defence guru
had agreed to return to rugby league to take charge of Wigan, but pulled out of that deal and is now deciding whether to stay with Wales as part of Wayne Pivac’s new regime or take up the offer of a four-year deal with the French federation.
‘It’s been going on for a few weeks,’ said Gatland. ‘I’ve had one conversation with Shaun about what he was doing, which was very brief. He said he wasn’t quite sure. Ideally, you’d like that decision to be made pretty quickly — whether he’s staying in Wales, going to France, going to England, or whatever.
‘If it does go on any longer, it would be a distraction. I’m sick of reading about it in the papers every day. If it goes on much longer, I’ll be having words with people to get it sorted because there’s been enough speculation.
‘The union have made an offer in good faith. Shaun has to make his mind up. It’s a waiting game and we will see what decision Shaun makes. It’s not something I would put up with.’ DylAn HARTlEy is set to return before the end of the season for northampton, who are convinced he can reclaim a leadership role for England in Japan.
The 33-year-old hooker has not played this year after knee surgery and, having shared the Test captaincy with Owen Farrell in the autumn campaign, the Saracens fly-half took charge during the Six nations.
northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd said: ‘I would be surprised if he were involved in an England team and didn’t have a leadership role.’