CHRIS FOY: England should make Shaun Edwards a serious coaching offer

So the RFU want an Englishman to replace Eddie Jones. Good. They should go the whole hog and make it an all-English coaching team – starting by making Shaun Edwards a serious offer at long last.

It's too late for this World Cup cycle. The medal-laden former Great Britain rugby league captain is committed to France until 2023, when he will seek to help the hosts win their home World Cup. 

His short-term ambitions lie across the Channel, but if they have any sense, the RFU will make it clear to him now that they want him when the next global showpiece is over.

Such is Edwards' winning habit, the powers-that-be at Twickenham would be well advised to get him lined up at the earliest opportunity, then build a new management structure around him. 

That is not how it normally works. Normally, the head coach is installed and he is able to choose his own side-kicks, but Edwards is a unique, special case. Every team he is involved with enjoys success. He is the common denominator. The RFU must pay whatever it takes for that magic touch.

Last week, union chief executive Bill Sweeney was asked about Edwards, in the context of discussions about succession planning. 

Reflecting on the fact that the cross-code icon had been allowed to work for two other countries, he said: 'I did actually meet him 18 months ago. We went for a walk down the river from Teddington to Richmond.

'I just wanted to hear his story. I said, 'Have we ever approached you'. He said, 'Someone called me, but it wasn't a serious call and wasn't followed up – and I quite liked the idea of going abroad and doing something different'. Did we miss him there? Possibly. He's done very well there (in France) and we certainly know who he is.'

Everyone knows who he is.