Red Roses recruit veteran 'consultant' Shaun Edwards for a fleeting flirt with the WXV

From the London desk – In a move that has the RFU’s corridors echoing with the clink of teacups, former England great Shaun Edwards has been appointed as a short‑term consultant to the Red Roses, the women’s national side, for the remainder of the WXV Global Series. The appointment, described in the union’s press release as a ‘consultancy role’, feels a bit like hiring a seasoned chef to taste‑test a single soufflé before the banquet ends.

The announcement was delivered over a half‑empty conference room, where senior staff shuffled papers and debated whether ‘consultant’ should be printed in italics. One senior administrator, who preferred to remain unnamed, noted that the decision was driven by a desire to inject ‘experience and a dash of old‑school rugby ethos’ – a phrase that sounded suspiciously like a corporate buzzword for “we’re out of ideas, but we have a famous name on speed‑dial”.

Edwards, whose résumé includes a glittering playing career and a stint coaching men’s clubs, will now be tasked with advising the Red Roses on everything from line‑out tactics to the proper way to hold a tea bag during a break. Sources say his first order of business is to ensure the team’s post‑match tea never goes cold – a mission that may prove more challenging than any opponent on the field.

Critics on social media have already begun to speculate whether the short‑term nature of the deal signals a trial period, a test of patience, or simply a polite way of saying “we’ll see you when we’re bored”. The union, for its part, assures fans that the appointment is “strategic”, though the exact strategy remains as elusive as a dropped ball in a windy scrum.

As the WXV series rolls on, the Red Roses will have to juggle new tactics, fresh enthusiasm, and the occasional reminder that the consultant’s contract expires before the final whistle. In the meantime, the RFU’s tea kettle will continue to hiss, and the corridors will remain a stage for the endless ballet of briefings, coffee, and the occasional sigh of resignation.