Decorated defence guru Shaun Edwards says his offer to work for England at next year’s Rugby World Cup was turned down by head coach Steve Borthwick.
Edwards, 60, left his post with France earlier this year and, after a short-term role with England’s women’s side, has signed up to work with Argentina until the end of the tournament.
“I had a good chat with Steve over the phone,” Edwards told Rugby Union Weekly.
“I said to Steve he can make me assistant kit man and I’ll be there, I’ll be ready for work.
“He was very, very honest with me and I thanked him for that.
“He said he was happy with his staff and the way things have been going, and I respected him for that.”
Edwards is one of the most successful defence coaches in the game, having won three Six Nations Grand Slams during a 12-year spell with Wales and then helping restore France as a global powerhouse – with three Six Nations titles secured on that side of the Channel.
He also won two Champions Cups and four English titles during his time with Wasps, initially as a defence coach before taking on the club’s top job.
Edwards, who was a hugely successful rugby league star with Wigan and Great Britain in his playing days, has long been linked with England’s men’s side.
Approaches were made by the Rugby Football Union to bring him into their coaching pathway in 2006 and 2008, while chief executive Bill Sweeney had informal talks with Edwards in 2021 but opted against competing with France for his services.
Borthwick’s backroom set-up is already set for Australia 2027, with Richard Wigglesworth overseeing defence, supported by Byron McGuigan and Joe El-Abd.
England have endured fluctuating form over the past two years, with a 12-Test winning streak ended by Scotland in February and followed by five successive defeats.
They most recently beat Fiji and Argentina and now face Australia, Japan, New Zealand and a Nations Championship play-off on successive weekends through November.
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