Shaun Edwards joins Red Roses coaching team on short-term consultancy until end of WXV Global Series

# What happened Shaun Edwards has joined the England Women (Red Roses) coaching team as a consultant. The Rugby Football Union announced the short-term deal runs until the end of the WXV Global Series. Edwards began work with the squad before England's match with New Zealand at Twickenham on September 26.

# Why the move matters Edwards is one of the most decorated defensive coaches in world rugby. He left his role as France men's defence coach earlier in 2026 and has now taken his first role within an international women's set-up. England's head coach John Mitchell framed the appointment as a chance for Edwards to bring high-level defensive expertise into the Red Roses environment for the final games of the WXV campaign.

# Where Edwards will fit in Edwards will operate as a consultant, working closely with the Red Roses' existing coaching group. The immediate working relationship highlighted in announcements is with Sarah Hunter, England's defence coach. The role is limited to the WXV Global Series matches, which frees Edwards to pursue ambitions to be involved with a men's Six Nations side in the future.

# Edwards' recent background

John Mitchell said Edwards has great respect for the Red Roses and brings exceptional coaching credentials and top-level experience. Edwards himself has told media that the Six Nations is the tournament he measures himself against and that he would be disappointed if not involved next year, indicating a short-term orientation to the Red Roses role.

# Context inside the WXV campaign England's 39-Test winning run ended with a 26-26 draw against Canada in Exeter. The Red Roses' WXV schedule after the New Zealand test is: a home match versus New Zealand (Twickenham, Sept 26), then away fixtures against Canada (Toronto, Oct 16 and Ottawa, Oct 23) and a final match against the USA (New Jersey, Oct 30). The consultancy covers the remainder of those fixtures.

# What to watch next

• Roses' existing structures, particularly in live tests against top-tier opponents such as New Zealand.
• Whether the short-term consultancy leads to further roles for Edwards in women's international rugby or opens the door to a men's Six Nations appointment in 2027.
• Performance outcomes in the remaining WXV fixtures, especially whether England's defence tightens after the Canada draw.