Shaun Edwards is poised to commit his future to France's national team after the Rugby World Cup.
The Englishman announced on Thursday that he would be leaving his role as Grand Slam champions Wales' defence coach in November after all. And it is claimed in France he has agreed a four-year deal to fill the same role with their old Six Nations rivals.
Edwards is good friends with France’s newly-appointed team manager Raphael Ibanez, whom he coached at Wasps.
The 52-year-old has already turned down a return to each of his two former clubs, Premiership Wasps in the 15-man game and rugby league's Wigan Warriors, and it was thought he would remain with Wales after being offered a contract to work with departing head coach Warren Gatland’s post-World Cup successor Wayne Pivac.
But after being given the hurry-up by Gatland on Tuesday to make a decision one way or the other, Edwards has chosen to take a different turn altogether.
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He said: ”After more than 10 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, also leaving after the autumn finals in Japan, made no attempt to mask his relief that the will-he won’t-he? saga had finally been resolved.
He said: ”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.”
