Shaun Edwards has been appointed as a short-term defence consultant with the England Women rugby union team for the remainder of the WXV Global Series, the Rugby Football Union announced on Monday, 21 September 2026. The 59-year-old joins a setup led by head coach John Mitchell and will work alongside the Red Roses’ existing defence coach Sarah Hunter, with his first match in the role scheduled for Saturday, 26 September, against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in London.
The appointment follows Saturday’s 26-26 draw with Canada at Sandy Park in Exeter, which brought England’s 39-match winning streak to an end. It is the first time Edwards has worked in women’s international rugby and only the fourth coaching role of his 25-year career, with the Red Roses joining Wasps, Wales and France on his record, according to Sky Sports Rugby Union.
Mitchell on the reasoning behind the move
Head coach John Mitchell confirmed the deal and set out how the arrangement had come about. He told media that since Edwards’ time with France had ended, the pair had spoken about the England game and Edwards had expressed an interest in working in an international women’s setup for the first time. Mitchell described Edwards’ coaching credentials as exceptional and said his experience at the highest level spoke for itself. He also indicated that Hunter was relishing the opportunity to learn from him alongside the rest of the coaching group as the team prepared for their match against New Zealand. Mitchell said Edwards would add to the programme and provide considerable value across the remaining fixtures of the WXV Global Series.
Edwards left France’s coaching staff in June 2026 following more than six years as their defence coach, a tenure in which he helped the side win three Six Nations titles. France’s head coach Fabien Galthié confirmed at the time that he wished to restructure a backroom team that had been in place long-term. Last week, Edwards told the Daily Mail that he remained open to offers and was keen to secure a full-time role in time for next year’s men’s Six Nations, describing it as his tournament and adding that he would be disappointed not to be involved. The short-term nature of the Red Roses consultancy, which runs until the final match against the USA in New Jersey on 30 October, leaves Edwards available should a men’s Six Nations opportunity arise.
Before coaching, Edwards played rugby league for Wigan Warriors and won 36 caps for Great Britain. His union coaching career began at Wasps in 2001 as defence and backs coach; he was promoted to head coach in 2005 and the club won the Heineken Cup and the Premiership during that period. He subsequently worked as Wales defence coach, winning four Six Nations titles including three Grand Slams alongside head coach Warren Gatland, before joining France in 2020.
The match that ended the winning run
England’s run of 39 consecutive Test wins ended at Sandy Park on Saturday, 19 September 2026, in a match that Canada could reasonably have won. The visitors set the tempo early, with No 8 Lizzie Gibson and prop DaLeaka Menin both scoring from close-range pick-and-go pressure to give Canada an early foothold. England replied through a ninth-minute try from Exeter wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald on the left, and a second from Hannah Botterman. Moloney-MacDonald added another score to give England the lead, but Menin crossed again on the stroke of half-time to send both sides into the break level at 19-19.
Hooker Bryony Field, making her first international start, scored in the second half to push England ahead, yet Canada levelled again to make it 26-26. Deep in the final quarter, England were held up over the line and then denied possession by a Canadian ruck turnover. The match finished all square, ending England’s 100 per cent home record against Canada in the process, as reported by the Guardian.
Mitchell, reflecting on the result, said England had applied significant pressure in the second half without converting it, and that greater things would come as a result. He characterised it as one match that would not deflect the team from their purpose.
Remaining WXV Global Series fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 26 September 2026 | England v New Zealand | Allianz Stadium, London |
| 16 October 2026 | Canada v England | Toronto |
| 23 October 2026 | Canada v England | Ottawa |
| 30 October 2026 | USA v England | New Jersey |
New Zealand, the first opponents Edwards will face in his new role, arrived at the fixture in formidable shape, having beaten Scotland 66-14 at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on the same Saturday, 19 September. The Black Ferns were also the last side to beat the Red Roses in the 2022 World Cup final, according to the Guardian.
The remaining four WXV Global Series fixtures give the coaching group opportunities to assess both results and defensive performance. How quickly Edwards can address the defensive vulnerabilities Canada exposed at Sandy Park — particularly in first-up tackling out wide, as noted in match reports — will become clearer when England meet the Black Ferns on Saturday. England then face Canada twice more in October, giving Mitchell’s side a direct opportunity to respond to the team that halted their run.