Shaun Edwards looks to be on his way to France after finally rejecting the offer of a new contract to stay with Wales after the World Cup.
Warren Gatland’s defence coach for the past 11 years has turned down the opportunity to remain as part of incoming head coach Wayne Pivac’s team, the Welsh Rugby Union have announced.
Edwards’ decision would appear to clear the way for him to join Raphael Ibanez – newly appointed as France’s team manager and a former captain under Edwards when the pair were together at Wasps.
It is understood Ibanez has been involved in talks to hire Edwards after France return from the World Cup, with former scrum-half Fabien Galthie anticipated to become the new head coach.
Edwards has become something of a master at attracting job offers, being linked with counter proposals, while also driving a hard bargain in negotiations.
England have often thought they were close to getting him into the RFU, Wasps felt they were moving towards re-employing him, while Wigan went as far as staging a press conference where he was paraded as their new man before that finally melted away, too.
Wales offered Edwards a new four-year deal, but it involved a break clause he was unhappy with. Now, just two days after Gatland admitted the speculation needed to end for fear of creating a diversion in the build-up to Japan, both Edwards and the WRU have confirmed they will go their separate ways after the tournament ends in October.
Edwards said: “After more than ten years with Wales this has been an incredibly difficult decision to reach but I won’t be renewing my contract. I would like to thank Warren and the WRU for the opportunity I have had working with the national team.
“We have won four Six Nations titles during my time with Wales, but I sincerely hope and believe that the best days are yet to come and I am fully focused on seeing what we can achieve in Japan.”
Gatland said: “Shaun has been an important part of the Wales set up over the past 11 years for what has been a hugely rewarding time for Welsh rugby.
“It is pleasing that we can draw a line under the speculation regarding Shaun’s future with this announcement and we can look forward to preparing the squad for the RWC and the tournament itself in Japan later this year.”
And Pivac also confirmed that Edwards had turned down the offer of a new deal.
“Shaun has a great history with Wales and has been part of a coaching team that has been very successful,” said the coach who is leaving the Scarlets and taking defence coach Byron Hayward with him.
“When Shaun’s availability post-RWC recently became apparent we worked with him to offer him a new contract which he was happy with and for him to be part of the new look coaching team going forward.
“Shaun has decided not to take that contract, which we must respect and we wish Shaun the very best in what lies ahead for him post Wales.”
