Shaun Edwards Stuns Rugby World by Joining Argentina as Defence Coach Until 2027 World Cup

Argentina have landed one of the biggest coaching coups in world rugby, announcing on Friday that Shaun Edwards will join Los Pumas as defence coach on a contract running through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The 59-year-old, released by France earlier this year after seven seasons in the role, will begin work with the Pumas at the end of October ahead of the resumption of the Nations Championship in November, where Argentina face Ireland, Italy and France. Former Pumas head coach Mario Ledesma also joined the staff as forwards coach. Head coach Felipe Contepomi said both men brought "enormous international experience" and would help the squad prepare in the best possible way with the World Cup just a year away. The move definitively ends rumours of Edwards joining Steve Borthwick's England, with whom there are no backroom vacancies. Edwards is currently on a short-term consultancy with England's world champion women's team but will prioritise the Pumas. His coaching record is extraordinary: seven men's Six Nations titles — four with Wales between 2008 and 2019 and three with France, including the 2022 Grand Slam and back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026 — plus a British and Irish Lions tour in 2009. Three-time semi-finalists Argentina are in a World Cup pool with Fiji, Spain and Canada.