EDWARDS SET FOR DRAGONS HELM
SHAUN Edwards is set to take over as head coach of the Dragons, barring any last-minute complications, the Western Mail can reveal.
The struggling Welsh region showed Bernard Jackman the door earlier this week with the board having lost faith in the Irishman after heavy defeats to a weakened Leinster side and Northampton.
The Rodney Parade side have won just three out of their 10 league matches this season despite significant summer recruitment and, as a result, Jackman has gone.
It is understood that advanced talks with Edwards are taking place as the finer points of a complicated deal are finalised with a view to formally announcing the news on Monday.
Edwards is, of course, Wales’ defence coach but it is unlikely that any of his time or involvement with the national side would be affected in any way.
But the fact the Welsh Rugby Union, who took over the Dragons 18 months ago, are Edwards’ employers has simplified the process to a degree.
One other complicating factor, however, is the 52-year-old’s involvement with the Ospreys, with whom he has been working with as a defence consultant this season.
Removing Edwards from the Ospreys and placing him at another region is a delicate process for the WRU to manage, but once that is thrashed out, it should pave the way for the move to go ahead.
It is expected that Edwards’ Wales involvement during the Six Nations will continue as normal, with an assistant taking over the region during his time away, though those intricacies are also still to be finalised.
Edwards is renowned for his defensive prowess but also has pedigree as a head coach. He was in charge of Wasps when the English side enjoyed Heineken Cup success in 2007.
It is thought the deal with the Dragons will only run until the end of this season, with Edwards committed to taking charge of Wigan Warriors in 2020. Dragons forwards coach Ceri Jones will take charge of this weekend’s daunting Euro trip to face Clermont but he expects this to be his only game in the hot-seat.
WALES’ 2018 calendar year is in the books and it’s full steam ahead towards a huge 2019.
There’s a Six Nations – for which Wales will be quietly fancied – a busy summer of preparation and of course the World Cup in Japan to come next September.
Oh, and it’s Warren Gatland’s final year in charge of the national squad. Fairly significant, then.
Here are all the key dates and how the year will pan out...
SIX NATIONS Squad meet - January 21
WARREN Gatland is likely to make his squad public after the first fifth round of European matches, which means it’s due to come the week commencing January 14.
Then the players will arrive in camp to begin their preparations for the Euro showpiece event.
During the recent autumn block, players did a lot of conditioning work as Gatland took the opportunity to test the players physically.
But points are on offer in the Six Nations and winning is everything in competition rugby, so the training may be slightly different.
With the way Wales have been building in the last 12 months, they’re going to be talked about as quiet favourites for the competition with Ireland clearly the bookies’ pick.
It would appear favourable to have England and Ireland in Cardiff next year but Wales last Grand Slam, in 2012, actually saw Gatland’s men go to London and Dublin to claim victories.
Fixtures France (A) - Feb 1, 8:00pm GMT; Italy (A) - Feb 9, 4:45pm; England (H) - Feb 23, 4:45pm; Scotland (A) - Mar 9, 2:15pm; Ireland (H) - Mar 16, 2:45pm.
Nice camp
INSTEAD of returning to their Vale Resort training base just outside Cardiff after the opener again France, Wales will travel to Nice and spend time preparing for the Italy game there.
It’s a good chance for Gatland to have his players together, away from home, in their own bubble. It will be seen as good preparation for pre-World Cup camps and the tournament itself.
WORLD CUP PREPARATION
Squad announcement TBC - End of season
WALES are yet to come down on an exact date for the naming of their wider World Cup training group but it will come in the final few weeks of the season.
Regardless of when their season finishes, players will then be given four weeks off before they are required to join up with the squad.
For example, if the Dragons don’t make the play-offs their selected players will have to arrive around Monday, May 27.
But if the Scarlets reach the PRO14 final, their selected players won’t have to link up with the squad until Monday, June 24.
So there’s every chance players could be arriving in dribs and drabs but it shouldn’t be too disruptive and ensures all players get ample break before a hectic summer and autumn.
Switzerland training camp - July
WALES will be returning to Fiesch in the Swiss Alps, where they spent time before the 2015 Rugby World Cup Again, it’s a chance for the group to spend time away together and it serves a wider purpose.
The players will be living 2,250 metres above sea level but training at an altitude of 1,000 metres.
The idea is that the players’ bodies become more accustomed to recovering when there is less oxygen available, making their bodies more efficient at using it when it is available.
It will also be very hot at the time of the year in Fiesch, so there is the heat to contend with too.
Back in 2015, three sessions a day were not unheard of and it was a gruelling fortnight for the players.
Games against England - August
AFTER what is going to be a tough time in Switzerland, Wales will return home for back-to-back fixtures against Eddie Jones’ England.
They will travel to London on August 11, with the return leg in Cardiff on August 17.
Results are always important in sport but they will carry less weight here with both Jones and Gatland likely to name experimental sides as
Turkey training camp - Mid-August
AFTER the two games against England, Wales will be leaving the country again.
This time they’ll be travelling to Turkey for a warm weather camp to take advantage of the world class facilities at Gloria Sports Arena.
Wales did a similar second camp back in 2015 but travelled to Doha.
Based on the dates of the fixtures, that camp is likely to be a week-long trip around August 19-25.
The players’ family will be invited along for part of this second trip, giving the players a bit of respite from the daily grind.
Games against Ireland - August/ September
FOLLOWING the warm-weather camp in Turkey, Wales return back to base for fixtures against Ireland.
They face their familiar foe in Cardiff on August 31.
In the week following that game, Gatland will name is final 31-man squad that he’ll take to the World Cup in Japan.
Then the squad travel to Dublin for one final preparation match.
Squad depart - September 11
GATLAND, his staff and the 31-man squad will head out to Japan and actually touch down the following day. After touching down, they’ll then arrive in Kitakyushu for a five-day training camp, where they’ll have mini camp to acclimatise and shake off the jet lag.
Then it’ll be time to head to Toyota City, where the serious business begins.
Fixtures Wales v Georgia - Toyota City, September 23, 11:15am (GMT) Australia v Wales - Tokyo, September 29, 8:45am Wales v Fiji - Oita, October 09, 10:45am Wales v Uruguay - Kumamoto City, October 13, 9:15am