Edwards blunt message to Wales squad

Jan 27 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

SHAUN EDWARDS is very much his own man, writes SIMON ROBERTS.

The Great Britain rugby league legend has already shown his true colours to the Welsh squad since arriving as assistant coach.

Warren Gatland’s right-hand man delivered a stirring and inspirational speech to the Wales squad on Tuesday.

Gatland gave a revealing glimpse at what was said during a team meeting at the Wales training base earlier last week.

“Shaun said to the guys on Tuesday, and it clearly touched a nerve when he said, ‘If you miss a tackle, I miss a tackle; if you make a system-error, I make a system error’,” said Gatland.

“He was brutally honest with the players.” Gatland stopped short of finishing off the rest of Edwards’ speech.

But Edwards also warned the players that he expected them to be loyal and buy into what was going to happen with Wales over the next four years.

Then he warned the 28-man squad that if they didn’t do that, they would not play for Wales.

Edwards, a formidable and intense character, is renowned for his loyalty and no-nonsense approach.

“I do have strong values and I do expect people to be committed to the cause,” said Edwards.

“I cannot do everything, but I will always give 100 per cent. That is the least you should do, otherwise you should do something else.

“I have come here to improve myself as a coach, by working with somebody like Warren again, and to help Wales.”

Edwards clearly wanted to work with Gatland again after the duo’s success with London Wasps.

The pair won three Guinness Premiership titles and a Heineken Cup together. Edwards went on to win a second Heineken Cup last season.

But while his intense stare and body language may make him appear one-dimensional, Edwards is a multi-layered character.

He is a devout Roman Catholic, has helped out in London soup kitchens and has come through losing his younger brother, Billy Joe, in a car crash in 2003.

Edwards, who won 40 winners’ medals with Wigan in rugby league, also ripped up a £100,000-a-year contract to be closer to his son.

So Wales, where rugby is a religion, has the right man.

“My mother is religious,” said Edwards. “So that is where I get my beliefs.

“My brother, Billy Joe, died in a car crash, four years ago, and that is when my religion helped me.

“I am not somebody who goes around trying to convert people but it is important to me.

“You just want to help people, don’t you? If you can do that, you should do that.

“You don’t have to be religious to do that, but we should all try to help other people shouldn’t we?”

So you Welsh players now know what is expected. He wants unselfish team players who will go the extra mile.

But what about somebody like Gavin Henson? Edwards and Henson would appear to be chalk and cheese, but they have something in common; they have both experience of a high-profile celebrity relationships.

Henson, of course, is with singer Charlotte Church, while Edwards had a son with former pop singer, Heather Small.

“I will do what I can for Gavin,” said Edwards. “But the person who will get the most out of Gavin is himself. He needs to want to do it, nobody else can do it for him. I am looking forward to working with him because he is a very talented rugby player.”

And Edwards should know. He was one of the most talented rugby league players of his generation.