When the Parisian party was over and Shaun Edwards returned home to the south of France, he celebrated adding yet another title to his record haul with a familiar rendition of one of The Drifters’ greatest hits.
It’s only a short walk along a palm tree-lined road from the cross-code icon’s house to the seafront in Canet Plage, near Perpignan, which had been a place of shock and desolation after France were ejected from their own World Cup in 2023.
But this time, Edwards was in a euphoric mood when he joined some locals and broke into song – encouraged by acclaim for a similar performance in front of Fabien Galthie’s French squad, after they had beaten Scotland on the final night of the tournament to win the Six Nations.
‘I had a few beers in one of the bars down by the beach, as soon as I came back,’ he told Mail Sport, while sitting in his kitchen. ‘I end up buying everyone else beers – as long as they let me sing! I was singing Saturday Night at the Movies – it’s always that one for me.
‘For the last match, we did something different when we had the trophy presentation. I started singing Saturday Night at the Movies and I got some decent compliments. The lads were saying I was a good singer and I was saying, “Are you sure?”!’
Edwards was incredulous about the praise for his singing, amid all the far more justified praise for what he actually does best: help teams win trophies with dominant defence.
Shaun Edwards at home in Perpignan, France, where he spoke to Mail Sport’s Chris Foy
Edwards was the defence coach for the dominant and succesful French team in the Six Nations
Edwards has brought up an impressive half-century of trophies as a player and a coach
France recovered from the seismic shock of somehow losing to England at Twickenham, to usurp Ireland as the kings of Europe and spark another glory night at the Stade de France, where the light shows have become one of rugby’s finest box-office spectacles.
The Lancastrian at the heart of another Gallic triumph made sure that he captured the momentous scenes. ‘It’s amazing and it kind of inspires you,’ he told Mail Sport, of the grand stadium show. ‘It’s something that, hopefully, you remember for the rest of your life.
‘That’s why, this time, I took my phone on the field with me, to make sure I got some good pictures of it. I took my daughters on the pitch too, which was pretty special. You have to celebrate a victory like that. It’s not easy to win the Six Nations.’
Not that he celebrated too hard, in the aftermath of the championship finale. ‘We got to the party at about 2.30am and three of us stayed on the bus; me, Fabien and Vloky (Vlok Cilliers) – our South African kicking coach,’ added Edwards.
‘He had a flight home the next day at 8am or something, and Fabien and I were just chatting about rugby. We had one drink together afterwards in the hotel bar, then I went to bed. It was 3.30am though!’
A visit to Edwards’ house provides cast-iron proof that this is not a man to make a song and dance – other than in the literal sense – about his rugby achievements. There are very few mementos on the walls.
‘My medals are in a drawer,’ he said. A plaque with his name on, marking the Grand Slam in 2022, is shoved in the corner of a room, on the floor, partially hidden. Any pictures on display are more for sentimental reasons than to highlight sporting success.
Yet, English rugby’s most prolific winner – in league with Wigan and Great Britain, and in union with Wasps, Wales and France – has all the epic peaks logged in his mind. This has become a part of the ritual in any interview: ‘So, Shaun, how many titles is it now?’
Edwards is English rugby’s most prolific winner – in league with Wigan and Great Britain, and in union with Wasps, Wales and France
Edwards almost chokes in disbelief when asked if amassing titles has become mundane
France blew away Scotland in the second half of their final match to lift the Six Nations
The French side were ominously strong and only a loss to England denied them a Grand Slam
‘It depends if you count Triple Crowns and European Challenge Cups,’ he said. ‘Including those, it’s 55. If you don’t, it’s 50. And it’s now six Six Nations titles, which I don’t think anyone else has done.’
He professes to be a history enthusiast, in which case, surely he likes making his own history?
‘Of course, yeah,’ he added, ‘because people can say you were a good player but that is just opinion. But no one can argue with your record. And the best is yet to come, I’m hoping.’
Edwards almost chokes in disbelief when asked if amassing titles has become mundane after all these years. ‘Never,’ he said, emphatically – laughing. ‘Never! I don’t ever get sick of winning.
‘It baffles me sometimes when people talk about the tactics in rugby. I just think, “Did you win? Yes? So, what’s the problem?!!”’
There was certainly no problem in Dublin, where France made their most profound statement of the Six Nations, as they put reigning champions Ireland to the sword in their own capital – winning 42-27.
It was a scoreline distorted in the hosts’ favour as the victors switched off in the closing stages. Prior to that, it was a masterpiece founded on a year-long wait for vengeance, after the Irish had won 38-17 in Marseille in the 2024 opener.
‘The build-up had been intense,’ said Edwards. ‘We went into that game with the embarrassment of what had happened at home against them the year before.
Edwards had a crucial role to play in France’s impressive Six Nations success in three years
A visit to Edwards’ house provides cast-iron proof that this is not a man to make a song and dance – other than in the literal sense – about his rugby achievements
The build-up to France’s trip to Ireland was intense but the visitors blew away the Irish
Ireland could not handle France’s second-half blitz and Fabien Galthie’s side won 42-27
‘The great Wayne Bennett (rugby league coach) once gave me one of the best tips I’ve ever heard. He said, “Beware of a humiliated team” and we were a humiliated team.
‘You’ve got guys like Cros, Uini Atonio, Gros, Mauvaka, Alldritt – tough men. Some of them played in that game (in 2024). They remembered it.
‘I know what that’s like. I remember once we got battered by St Helens on Boxing Day; absolutely battered. It was 40-odd something. It was the biggest hiding I ever took in a Wigan shirt. The next match, we drew them in the Challenge Cup and we were the humiliated team. I think we beat them 26-7 or something like that.
‘When you’ve got strong players and leaders like Greg Alldritt, you don’t really have to worry about the emotions. I know that’s going to come from them. It means I can concentrate on the tactical game, rather than having to think about winding them up.’
What amused many viewers was just how wound up Edwards himself appeared to be after that epic French performance.
They had buried their nearest rivals, but the defence guru was visibly seething as Galthie – his boss, the head coach – tried to draw a smile out of him by the touchline. The footage was widely seen on social media, but it didn’t ever reach the man himself, as Edwards said: ‘When was that? I’ve not seen that.
‘I can’t really remember it, but I know what I would have been thinking – let’s not get too carried away. We hadn’t won anything then. The big game (versus Scotland) was the week after. I want to win the Six Nations, not just win in Ireland.
‘I tell you what I have noticed about the French, which makes going to a rugby match here such a joyous event. Even if it’s just a normal game – I couldn’t get my head round this when I first got here – everyone does a lap of honour afterwards. Even at a club game. Even sometimes the team who have been defeated walk round and wave to the fans.
Edwards took time to get used to the French custom of a lap of honour after a game
Edwards has a precious knack for persuading supremely-gifted attacking players to roll their sleeves up and defend as if their lives depend on it
Edwards, undoubtedly, is one of the greatest motivators and man-managers in the sport
‘In the UK, we are brought up to think you do that after a final – after you’ve won something. You don’t go walking round waving to the crowd, just because you’ve won one match!
‘But in France, it’s different, because it’s just a joyous event. I’m used to it now but, at first, I’d be thinking, “What are we walking round for? We’ve won nothing yet”.
‘Maybe they (the French) have been good for me, chilling me out a bit, and I’ve been good for them, making sure they stay focused. They’re Latin and I’m Anglo-Saxon, or Celtic, or whatever I am!’
What he is, undoubtedly, is one of the greatest motivators and man-managers in the sport. Edwards has a precious knack for persuading supremely-gifted attacking players to roll their sleeves up and defend as if their lives depend on it.
Even someone as feted and adored as France captain Antoine Dupont is desperate to please him and earn his weekly champagne award.
‘I bought Antoine a bottle for the last match but, for some reason, we didn’t bump into each other in the morning,’ said Edwards. ‘So, I brought it home with me and, unfortunately, I drank it!’ Cue fits of wild laughter. ‘It was nice too, I can tell you! I’ll have to buy him another one.
‘Antoine really, really loves winning that prize; that bottle of champagne. He always says to me, “I try to do good for the defence”. He understands how important defence is. He’s the one who comes to me the most and will say, “I haven’t won the defence prize; I haven’t won the champagne for a bit”. He’s a quiet lad but he’s so competitive.’
Edwards’ latest career feat led to widespread calls for his inclusion in the Lions coaching line-up for the summer tour of Australia. Unfortunately, that enticing scenario was a non-starter.
Edwards’ latest career feat led to several calls for his inclusion in the Lions coaching set up
Edwards was part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team on the 2009 Lions tour in South Africa
He led the defence on what was one of the most brutal tours ever seen, as the Springboks ran out narrow 2-1 series winners
Despite his fervent desire to take part in another British and Irish crusade to the far south, the man of the hour has pressing business to attend to in New Zealand, and his former Wigan team-mate, Andy Farrell, had decided to take Simon Easterby to run the Lions defence anyway.
‘Faz contacted me after the Six Nations to say, “Well done”, but he knows that my focus has to be on the French team,’ said Edwards. ‘I also think Faz has a connection with his defence coach in Ireland. They had the best defence in the last two Six Nations, working together.
‘As regards me, I had no idea that our tour and the British & Irish Lions were on at the same time. My priority is the French team.
‘I have to help these young lads who are going to New Zealand for the first time to try to adapt from the Top 14 to international rugby. Against the All Blacks, away from home, is probably the ultimate challenge and I don’t think anyone expects us to win – but sometimes you never know.’
So, does he still crave another opportunity with the Lions one day? ‘Yeah, of course. It’s the worst loss of my career (2009 in South Africa). It was a really emotional trip and it took me a long time to get over. But there was a positive side to it too.
‘I remember going for a drink in Windsor after the tour and everyone started clapping. I said, “But we lost” and they were saying, “Yeah, but you put the pride back in the Lions”. That was very powerful for me. The Lions is something special.’
A series win with the Lions is one gap on an otherwise over-crowded CV. The other is a World Cup triumph, after a couple of near misses with Wales and that one-point defeat to eventual champions South Africa in 2023.
Edwards is optimistic that a core of the France squad will be in their prime for the next tournament, in Australia in 2027. ‘As long as they keep their hunger, desire and will to win, I think we’ll have a chance,’ he said.
A series win with the Lions is one gap on an otherwise over-crowded CV. The other is a World Cup triumph, after a couple of near misses with Wales
France have several stars who will peak in time for the 2027 World Cup, like Louis Bielle-Biarrey
Antoine Dupont is still the world’s greatest player – and only the World Cup is missing from the genius scrum-half’s CV
Whether he is still in the same job by then depends on whether anyone else comes along to make him an offer he can’t refuse. The Welsh Rugby Union, for instance. They are currently on the hunt for a new head coach.
Asking Edwards if he would be interested in the role – as per so much recent speculation – prompted an entertaining response, which was part endorsement of his own credentials and part evasion.
‘Any role interests me in the future, because I want to coach for as long as possible, particularly in international rugby,’ said Edwards.
‘I’ve proved myself as a head coach, with a team (Wasps) who won the Heineken Cup, the Premiership and the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
‘I know that – from my experiences and the knowledge I’ve got from working with people like Fabien and Gats, and from listening to people from other sports; great football managers etc – I’d be more than capable.
‘I’d be very confident about being a head coach, but it doesn’t bother me, as long as I’m in a job where I’m motivated, have good players to work with, who are highly motivated themselves. If I’m assistant coach or head coach, I can do both.’
That was all clear as mud, so another attempt followed. ‘Shaun, you worked with Wales for years – would that job interest you?’
This time, the reply disintegrated in amusing fashion. ‘I’d be interested in any job, whether it be as a head coach or an assistant coach,’ he said, again.
Gatland and Edwards were a formidable pairing for Wales, racking up trophies
Edwards, if a little cautiously, says he would be open to any job, as head or assistant coach
There will always be opportunities and open doors for Edwards wherever he goes
‘But, it’s all a bit… I don’t know the word for it – when it’s not true.’ Hypothetical?
‘Yeah, that’s it – hypothetical! That’s a better word! No wonder I couldn’t remember that! It’s a bit hypothetical but I’d have confidence in being a head coach or an assistant coach.’
He may have stumbled over that particular word, while trying not to say the wrong thing, but Edwards – it appears – nailed his lines when he was performing his favourite victory song.
The way he’s going, there should be plenty more opportunities to repeat that party piece in the years ahead.
