WRU Video: Shaun Edwards on becoming Wales Defence Coach
Shaun Edwards joins the Welsh Rugby Union part time during tournaments and tours up until January 2010 while Rob Howley will split his duties between Wales and the Cardiff Blues until May when he joins the Welsh backroom team full time until at least the end of 2011. The new coaching team will be fully supported by the existing back room staff which covers fitness, nutrition, an analysts department plus medical and physiotherapy staff.
Shaun Edwards said: “It’s a great honour to be coaching international rugby with Wales and I am extremely comfortable with the backroom team I will be joining. I believe I am ready for test rugby while I am also delighted that I will be able to continue with my role at Wasps which is very important to me.
“I have done my homework on Wales and I have looked as far back as the seventies and studied the times when Wales have been successful. Basically every time Wales came top of the defensive statistics they won the championship. That includes the Grand Slam year of 2005 when they only conceded 84 points.
“Success is built on rock solid defence and although we won’t be championing negative rugby we want the whole of the Welsh nation to be talking about the big hits and the aggression associated with strong defence. We have got a long way to go because the statistics don’t lie, but I personally believe success is achievable.
“I am looking forward to the challenge and I have already spoken to some of the legendary players from to the past to learn from them and find out their attitudes to the defensive role. My great, great grandfather was a Welshman and I have played international rugby union as well as league so I know how important the game is to the Welsh nation. Warren had a huge influence on my joining Wales and now I am really looking forward to the work ahead.”
