Renowned defence coach Shaun Edwards has revealed that England boss Steve Borthwick made the decision to turn down an offer to work alongside the national side. Edwards confirmed that an approach had been put forward regarding his involvement with England, but the proposition was ultimately dismissed by head coach Borthwick.
The offer presented by Edwards was specifically targeted at joining the England team for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which is set to be staged in Australia. Edwards had offered to lend his coaching expertise to the squad for the major tournament, opening the door for an involvement with the national setup down under.
Despite Edwards' established standing as a renowned defence coach, Borthwick chose not to accept the proposal. According to Edwards, the England boss decided against bringing him on board, definitively turning down the opportunity to integrate him into the coaching staff for the high-profile international competition.
With the offer officially knocked back by Borthwick, England's plans for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia will proceed without Edwards in their coaching ranks. The admission makes it clear that while Edwards was willing to work with England on the world stage, Borthwick will lead the side into the tournament with a different approach.