Shaun Edwards has reportedly rejected an approach from England to become part of their coaching setup.

The RFU originally offered Edwards a role Saxons coach before this year’s Six Nations Championship but the job came without control over team selection.

Edwards chose to join Warren Gatland’s Welsh setup as defence coach and the pair, who enjoyed huge success together at Wasps before Gatland returned to his native New Zealand, led Wales to the Grand Slam.

With Martin Johnson expected to be installed as England team manager next week, there is another coaching position to be filled in the new English setup, and it appears as though the RFU have made a bee-line for Edwards in an attempt to lure him away from Wales.

But Edwards has long insisted that he would remain with Gatland, who was a major factor in his decision to make the regular trips to Wales whilst staying on as Wasps defence coach under Ian McGeechan.

If Edwards were to take up a job with the senior England coaching team he would almost certainly have to severe his ties at Wasps.