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Shaun Edwards says Steve Borthwick rejected his offer to join England

Edwards, a respected defence coach, made the claim ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

By idly intel

2 min read

AI-assisted
Written by idly intel with AI help from several outlets' reporting, and checked before it goes live. How idly works
Image: Sky Sports

Key facts

Story
  • Shaun Edwards says he offered to work with England before the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
  • He says England head coach Steve Borthwick turned the offer down.
  • The reports give no details of why the offer was declined or what Borthwick has said.

Shaun Edwards, a well-known defence coach, has said that he offered to work with England before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but that head coach Steve Borthwick declined the offer.

Edwards made the claim in comments published on Monday, 2 November. He has built a reputation as one of rugby's most respected defensive minds, and his offer would have brought that experience to the England set-up. The reports do not say when the offer was made or in what form.

What is not yet known

The reports do not include a response from Borthwick or the Rugby Football Union. It is not clear why Borthwick chose not to take up the offer, or whether Edwards has been in talks with England since. The reports also do not say whether Edwards has a role with any other team.

For England fans, the story points to the staff choices the team will make as it prepares for the tournament in Australia. The Rugby World Cup is one of the biggest events in the sport, and changes to a coaching group can draw close attention from supporters. Any further comment from Borthwick or England's governing body will be the next key development.

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Sources: BBC, Sky Sports

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