Six Nations Championship:Warren Gatland, Wales's new head coach, has expressed his disbelief he was able to headhunt Shaun Edwards to join his management team, having expected his former Wasps colleague to be sitting in the opposition dug-out in next month's Six Nations opener against England.
Edwards yesterday agreed a two-year contract to act as Wales' defence coach on a part-time basis, and also extended his deal at Wasps, where he is head coach, until the end of the 2010-11 season. The club's former scrum-half Robert Howley, who captained Wales in the 1999 World Cup, will be the backs coach as Gatland, who has moved to Wales from Waikato, stiffens his back-up team with men he trusts.
Gatland announced a 28-strong squad for the Six Nations. Ten players who took part in the World Cup were left out, including captain Gareth Thomas and veteran flanker Colin Charvis.
Surprisingly, the 76-cap flanker Martyn Williams, who announced his retirement from international rugby three months ago and even last week was quoted as saying there was no point in Gatland trying to change his mind, agreed to return for his 11th championship campaign. The Lions number eight Ryan Jones becomes Wales' fourth captain in the past year.
"The door is not closed to the likes of Gareth Thomas and Colin Charvis," Gatland said, "but we have to factor the 2011 World Cup into our calculations."
But Edwards, who turned down the chance to coach England Saxons to rejoin Gatland, commanded the attention, even eclipsing the Ospreys centre Gavin Henson, who was named after playing no part in last season's Six Nations. Indeed, the 25-year-old has not started a championship match since the 2005 grand slam clincher against Ireland.
The English RFU elite director of rugby, Rob Andrew, last week said he doubted whether Edwards would be able to effectively combine the two roles, but Gatland retorted: "Is that what he would have said if England had secured Shaun's services? I'm not sure, and I am just surprised England had not snapped him up before we got in. I am delighted to have got him on board, not just as a coach but as a personality. Shaun knows how to win.
"The choice he faced was the Saxons or coaching at the highest level. It was not much of an option and I think that England only made their offer because they felt they needed to be seen to be doing something.
"I have spoken to Ian McGeechan (Wasps' director of rugby) and we will work out when and where Shaun will spend his time."
Gatland dismissed reports he had offered Wasps and former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio a place on the management team. "I had a conversation with him recently and invited him to watch a training session and maybe have lunch with the players," said Gatland.
The Ospreys supply half of Gatland's first squad, more than Wales' other three regions combined, with Gloucester's Gareth Cooper and Gareth Delve making up the 28.
Gatland eventually wants all his leading players based in Wales.
"I would like 60 or 70 Wales-qualified players appearing for the regions every week," he said when asked whether he wanted to see a reduction in overseas players on contracts.
"There are some journeymen from outside playing for our professional teams, but there are also guys of quality. I do not think it is any coincidence the two most successful teams in England this decade, Wasps and Leicester, were the ones who supplemented a squad of largely home-grown players with a few prime signings from overseas."
Gatland will have charge of the players for only a week before his first game, against England at Twickenham. The Cardiff Blues wing Jamie Roberts is the only uncapped member of the squad.