Shaun Edwards' throws cat among the pigeons with 'hypothetical' England job comments

Shaun Edwards indicated a job with England would be convenient given his proximity to Twickenham, yet he noted talk of a role with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was “just hypothetical”.

Despite having last year agreed to take over as head coach of Wigan Warriors, it has since emerged Edwards only made “an oral agreement” with the Super League club, and he has spoken about his willingness to “consider all offers”.

Edwards was announced as Wigan’s 2020 coach last August, with another former player, Adrian Lam, holding the fort until then after the departure of Shaun Wane.

It has been suggested the RFU may be keen to bring Edwards on board once his time with Wales comes to an end after the Rugby World Cup.

London-based Edwards lives near the RFU’s headquarters at Twickenham and he mused about the possibility of a role there in an interview with The Sunday Times.

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“Unless you get an offer from someone it is all hypothetical, isn’t it,” he said.

“But it’s true Twickenham is just down the road, much closer than Wales. I could get the tube there.”

Dai Young, director of rugby for Premiership side Wasps, revealed on Saturday that his club had spoken to Edwards about him returning to a team he coached for 10 years from 2001.

“Shaun would be fantastic for us,” he said after Wasps’ 27-14 defeat to Gloucester on Saturday.

“We have spoken to him and made our interest known in someone who is a big part of the club’s history, but I know we are one of a number of options he has.

“I do not know where we stand and we will be talking to him when he is back from holiday.”

Wigan said they would clarify Edwards’ comments and on Friday released a statement in which chairman Ian Lenagan said: “During our conversations, Shaun asked for more time to consider his options. I agreed to his request and fully understand his reasons for doing so.”

“Wigan Warriors Rugby League club’s position is that it has an oral agreement with Shaun Edwards to become head coach from 2020, cemented by a handshake and announced publicly in a press conference by both parties in August 2018,” Lenagan wrote in a statement.

“I take full responsibility for missing out the mention of a signed contract in Wigan’s press release at the time of Shaun’s appointment. I have done business on many occasions on the basis of an oral agreement over a handshake.