The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, March 17.
Shaun Edwards plots next move
France defence coach Shaun Edwards has opened up about where his future may lie when his contract expires following next year’s Rugby World Cup, admitting he would love to coach a Rugby Championship side.
The 59-year-old added a record seventh Six Nations title to his trophy cabinet on Saturday as France retained their crown with victory over England in Paris. It is the third title he has won with Les Bleus, having already won four during his 12-year stint with Wales.
With his current deal with France up at the end of next year, he admits he is open-minded about where he will go next, but has eyed one of the southern hemisphere heavyweights as a potential destination.
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more
“I have an ambition to win a Rugby Championship, to be honest,” Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I would love to be involved with the All Blacks or Springboks or Argentina maybe.
“Most of the World Cup winners have come from the southern hemisphere, and I would love to be able to pit myself against the top teams like that.”
The Wigan-born coach has established himself as arguably the greatest defence guru in world rugby, with England’s Rugby Football Union repeatedly urged by fans to bring him into their national set-up.
However, former Wasps boss Edwards says he has never received any offer to coach his native country, explaining: “One thing I have learned over the years is you have to be asked if you are going to go to a club or a union.
“They have to telephone you and ask you. After the next World Cup, we will see what happens.”
Get the latest Wales Rugby merch at Kitbag
The Six Nations is running from February 5 to March 14 and Wales Rugby fans can get the latest jerseys, hoodies and more at Kitbag.
Six Nations side make police complaint
The Irish Rugby Football Union are set to make an official complaint to police after lock Edwin Edogbo was targeted with racist abuse in the wake of his Ireland debut last month.
The 23-year-old, who was born and raised in County Cork to Nigerian parents, won his first international cap against Italy in the second round of the Six Nations.
However, what should have been a special occasion was marred by “cowardly” online racist abuse directed at the Munster forward, with the IRFU promptly launching an investigation.
The union has since collaborated with data technology partners Signify, which specialises in protecting against online abuse, and has now received five case files from the company.
A spokesperson for the IRFU told The Echo that an official complaint will now be made to Gardaí in the coming days.
“The IRFU can confirm it has received five case files from their partner Signify,” a union statement read.
“Three of these appear to have accounts based in Ireland. The IRFU will be making an official complaint to An Garda Síochána in the coming days.”
It comes after Ireland head coach Andy Farrell slammed the racist comments aimed at Edogbo as “disgusting”, adding that there is “no need for it in society”.
Condemning the abuse, he told reporters: “First and foremost, it’s all about the player, nothing but about how he is and how it’s affecting him or not. We’ve had the conversation and he’s fine, thankfully.
“It’s obviously disgusting. There’s no need for it in society. I didn’t read it. I don’t want to read it, I don’t want to give people anything to even think that I’m even commenting on some of the stuff that has been said really because they certainly don’t deserve that.
“But as far as I’m concerned, Edwin’s fine, he’s strong, he’s been brought up in the right way,” Farrell added. “He’s made of the right stuff, and that’s why he’s able to just crack on and ignore all the BS.”
Carre hailed for Six Nations impact
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has heaped praise on Rhys Carre and named the Saracens prop as his Welsh player of the Six Nations after he became a “cult hero” over the course of the championship.
Carre was playing in his first Six Nations since returning to the international fold in the autumn, with Steve Tandy bringing the 28-year-old back into the Wales set-up after he was very publicly cut from Warren Gatland’s Rugby World Cup training squad in 2023.
The loosehead made a huge impact during the tournament, finishing it as Wales’ top try scorer after crossing three times. That tally included his remarkable solo try against Ireland, which saw him collect the ball on the wing, throw a dummy and run it in from 35 metres out to score.
A fine run of performances has led Warburton to single Carre out as his Welsh player of the championship, with the former Wales skipper admitting the prop has “stolen the headlines” from the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit.
Asked who had stood out for him most for Wales during the Six Nations, the former flanker told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast: “I think for repeated efforts across 80 minutes, [Aaron] Wainwright has been exceptional, but for impact, I’d say Rhys Carre.
“Even though he’s come off at 45, 50 minutes, I think the momentum he’s helped give Wales and the go-forward ability…on Rugby Special we looked at some of the tries Wales scored. They scored off a driving lineout and it was Wainwright who picked it up but it was Carre who absolutely obliterated the maul and gave it momentum. He scrummaged well too.
“So, yeah, I think the most impactful player certainly has been Rhys Carre and he’s probably turned into a cult hero and become the fans’ favourite player.
“It was Rees-Zammit coming into the championship – it was his first Six Nations back from the NFL and he’s been playing unbelievably well for Bristol at 15 in the Gallagher PREM – but Carre has stolen the headlines.”
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.