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Shaun Edwards won't be leaving us, say Wasps
Chris Jones, Evening Standard19 Dec 2007
Ian McGeechan, the London Wasps director of rugby, moved swiftly today to dismiss reports the
Heineken Cup champions were about to lose head coach Shaun Edwards to either England or Wales.
McGeechan also revealed that former outside-half Alex King would shortly return from France to take up a coaching role at the club and that
captain Lawrence Dallaglio and French skipper Rafael Ibanez would help out to cover for the loss of forwards coach Craig Dowd, who is
returning to New Zealand in March.
Edwards is wanted by former Wasps supremo Warren Gatland, the new Wales coach, but England are set to launch a counter bid to make the former rugby league star their defence coach if Mike
Ford does not remain in his role with the
national team.
Brian Ashton, the England head coach, will be
offered a new one-year rolling contract today and will then decide if he wants to continue
working with Ford and forwards coach John Wells, who were involved with his predecessor, Andy Robinson.
McGeechan said: “If Shaun does get involved with a national team then it will be on a part-time basis, one that allows him to continue with Wasps. I do not believe that kind of arrangement would have any major impact on the club.
“It is vital that England develop the next generation of coaches and they need experience at Test level. It really is joined-up thinking to go along that road and it should work. There are some great young coaches in England and it is logical that they are mentored at a higher level before making the step up full-time.”
