Former Wales defensive guru Shaun Edwards has admitted he would like to become Wales manager at some point in the future, praising the transfer of Warren Gatland, adding that Welsh Rugby Union should not have let him go in the first place.

As head coach and back coach respectively, Gatland and Edwards won multiple Grand Slam titles, as well as securing two World Cup semi-finals and a 14-match unbeaten run that took Wales to the top of the world rankings. The pair left their Wales duties after the 2019 World Cup, with Gatland returning to New Zealand and Edwards taking over for France.

While Gatland is back in its former role following the departure of Wayne Pivac, Edwards played a key role in turning France into a contender for their own World Cup next year. Just a few weeks ago, he signed a new contract that will keep him as France manager until 2027.

see more information : Warren Gatland makes stunning return to Welsh rugby

Wales’ managerial status now looks the same as it did the same year, with Gatland in line to remain in charge until the end of this year’s World Cup in Australia. So the question is, would Edwards be interested in following his former colleague as Wales manager?

“In the future? Yes, of course,” he told WalesOnline. “I love the Six Nations.

“It’s a competition where I judge myself because it’s the only time you compete against teams that have exactly the same preparation. It’s just after Christmas when everyone is a little miserable. It’s a historic competition where all the great coaches and players are.”

Such is Edwards’ action, his name trending on social media and Google within hours of Gatland’s return to Welsh rugby. “I don’t know much about trends or Twitter,” she admitted. “Someone texted me about it and I don’t know if it’s good or bad!”

However, he believes the decision to return to Gatland, who Edwards also trained with at Wasps and the Lions, is good for Welsh rugby, adding that he was not surprised they returned to him, rather they were his.

“I think rugby is on the back pages,” he said. “That’s what happens when big names enter the sport.

“That’s what all sports need, big names that are instantly recognizable. For sponsors, fans, television, whoever, they light up when they see Warren Gatland.

“I’m surprised they didn’t give him a contract from the start. We’ve just won 14 games in a row, reached the semifinals of the World Cup, won a Grand Slam and everyone lost their jobs.”

“I’m not here to criticize the departing manager, but all I can say is that Warren Gatland is a great name. Sponsors will be very happy. Interest in the Six Nations will skyrocket and that’s good for the sport.”

As for the actual work ahead of Gatland, Edwards doesn’t believe there’s as much to be done as people think. Pointing to the increased competition in the test environment, he believes this Wales team can still match anyone.

More importantly for Edwards, it’s just about putting his best team on the field.

“I think they played brilliantly against Australia,” he said. “I think they played very well.

“They have most of the big names back. This is important in Wales as they only have four teams.

“The great Clive Griffiths, who was the back coach at the 2005 Grand Slam, told me when I arrived in Wales that when you have a complete squad you can tackle anybody. The only problem is when we have few injuries because we only have four teams to choose from, so it’s difficult.

“That was true when I was there. In France, I now have 14 teams to choose from. Wales with a full squad, as they demonstrated against Australia, are in the top eight. They also demonstrated this in South Africa.

“The rugby test is fantastic now, isn’t it? Was it ever this good?

“You don’t know who is winning games right now. Whereas before, let’s be honest, you went into games wondering how much a certain team was going to win. This is not the case now.

“Being on the right side of the scoreboard is easy to say, but not easy to do. I’ve been playing international rugby for 14 years and it’s never been easy to do.”

As for the brand of rugby that Gatland brought, and which has at times been derided by critics, Edwards has a very simple answer. “How many Grand Slams and Heineken Cups have these critics won?”

Gatland’s reappearance in the Northern Hemisphere at least sets up a meeting between Edwards and Gatland in next year’s Six Nations. Despite all the talent on court in Paris, on March 18, Edwards and Gatland are set to face the headlines.

“It’s great for me because I know I’m going to be competing against someone at a high level like Warren because he’s been a very successful trainer in the past,” he added. “If we win, it shows that we ourselves are working at a very high level.

“As a competitor, you want to go up against the best, and Warren is certainly there.”

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