Shaun Edwards set to leave France with immediate effect
shaun edwards looks set to leave his role as France defence coach with immediate effect, ending a spell that brought three Six Nations titles and the 2022 Grand Slam. France are now preparing for a backroom change while Fabien Galthié moves to freshen his coaching group before July.
French publication L'Equipe reported that Gérald Bastide is set to replace him. Bastide held the role from 2015 to 2017 under Guy Noves, giving France a familiar option as the post opens up again.
Galthié Moves in Narbonne
Galthié and his assistant coaches met in Narbonne to discuss selection ahead of the friendly against England A and the Nations Cup fixtures against New Zealand, Australia and Japan in July. Edwards was absent from that meeting, and the report says he has been pushed towards the exit.
France’s most recent Six Nations title came in March 2026, but the defensive return on that campaign was not clean. France conceded 50 points against Scotland and 46 against England, numbers that sit awkwardly alongside the overall title win.
Bastide Returns to France
Bastide’s return would bring back a coach who already knows the French setup. He handled the defence role from 2015 to 2017, during Guy Noves’ spell in charge, so the switch would not be a leap into the unknown for the staff reshuffle Galthié is driving.
Edwards remains under contract until 2028, which makes the timing more striking. He has also built a long record away from France, helping Wales win four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams, and reach two Rugby World Cup semi-finals, and he was part of Sir Ian McGeechan’s backroom team on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa, a trip the tourists lost 2-1.
England and Wales options
A move to Wales looks blocked for now because Steve Tandy has already appointed Peter Murchie as his defence coach. An England role is not impossible, but Richard Wigglesworth is currently in that job, leaving no vacancy on Steve Borthwick’s coaching team.
For France, the immediate issue is simple: Edwards appears on the way out, Bastide is the reported replacement, and Galthié has already started adjusting his staff around the July fixtures.
