Wigan Warriors and rugby league legend Shaun Edwards has secured his latest role in rugby union, agreeing to a consultancy role with the England women’s national team.
The Red Roses are widely considered the most dominant team in rugby union and could possibly stake a claim as the most dominant team in world sport. Their 39-game winning run, which dated back to 2022, ended over the weekend but they still remain unbeaten after they drew with Canada 26-26.
Edwards has long been considered one of the most prominent coaches in rugby union, helping Wasps to domestic success before being a key part of the Wales coaching team when they won four Six Nations titles in just over a decade.
He’d take his talents to coach defence for the French national team, helping them to a Grand Slam in 2022 and wins in 2025 and 2026, however, his role with the Red Roses won’t explicitly be defence, but instead as a coaching consultant.
Former Wigan Warriors icon joins England rugby union set-up
The news was confirmed at midday on Monday with the former Wigan Warriors man having finished up with France previously, something that created speculation over his future.
Rather than a rugby league return, he’s remained in rugby union and per the England head coach, John Mitchell, Edwards has picked out the Red Roses specifically.
Mitchell said: “Since his time with France ended, we have had a conversation about our game, and he expressed an interest in working in an international women’s set-up for the first time.
“He has a huge amount of respect for the Red Roses and what we stand for; he sees it as a privilege to join our environment.”
He has been contracted on a short-term basis, taking the role on until the end of the WXV Global Series, which ends on October 31st. The competition is in its first year and sees 12 nations compete, with England’s next fixture being against New Zealand – the last side to beat the Red Roses, all the way back in the 2022 World Cup Final.
After that, England will tour North America and face Canada twice and the United States once, at which point Edwards’ short-term tenure will be up, though it’s unclear what he will do then.
It has been suggested that he could take on a role with the England men’s side, something he has never previously done despite his vast experience in the international game.
Shaun Edwards has taken up a short-term coaching consultancy role with the Red Roses 🌹
The Wigan Warriors and Great Britain Rugby League legend will be with the squad until the end of the WXV Global Series.
Read more here 👉 https://t.co/KPjISlrJ3K pic.twitter.com/y8hJYQuAsr
— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) September 21, 2026
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