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Riki Flutey knows Shaun Edwards better than most. The pair spent three seasons together in two spells at Wasps. This weekend they will find themselves on opposite sides of the tub England face New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium.
Their first season together ended with Wasps winning the Guinness Premiership 2007/08. A year later, Edwards coached Flutey on the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
On Saturday afternoon, Edwards will coach the world champions after joining John Mitchell’s staff on a short-term basis as a consultant. Flutey will be there in the role of backs and skills coach for the Black Ferns, who are yet to lose a game since Whitney Hansen took over at the start of 2026.
It will be Edwards’ first time coaching the England national team. In their last WXV Global Series away, England’s 39-game winning streak ended in a 26-26 draw with Canada in the replay of the Woman Rugby World Cup Final 2025.
Speaking shortly after England Rugby confirmed Edwards had joined the world champions, Flutey was quick to see what Edwards would bring to the team.
“I’m actually really looking forward to catching up with him,” Flutey said RugbyPass. “I don’t know if he’ll talk to me before the game – maybe he’ll want to say goodbye, or maybe he’ll want to wait until after! But, no, I have a lot of respect for him.”
Flutey added: “He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever coached. I’ve learned so much from him, both from a strategic and technical point of view, especially defensively, but also about mindset and mentality.”
“From what I remember from Shaun, he keeps things really simple, which is really important for the players. In every environment he’s been in, he’s been one of the most successful managers, definitely in the Six Nations.”
Edwards has one of the most formidable resumes in rugby. A 10-year spell at Wasps brought four Premiership titles and two Heineken Cup triumphs. His 12 years with Wales saw the team win four men’s Six Nations – including three Grand Slams.
Six years with France they were similarly successful, with the team looking to 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam, as well as back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026. He left his role in Fabien Galthie’s squad earlier this year, despite having 18 months left on his contract.
The 59-year-old will now bring all those years of experience to the Red Roses coaching staff, working alongside England’s all-time great Sarah Hunter, who has been the team’s defense coach since her retirement in 2023.
In addition to his relationship with Edwards, Flutey worked closely with England head coach John Mitchell. At the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the pair were assistant coaches at Jamie Joseph’s Japan set-up.
“Knowing John Mitchell from the last men’s World Cup with Japan, also knowing Shaun and the England game, they pride themselves on their physicality and have an incredible defence,” he said. “Shaun is just going to add so much value.”
Edwards will remain with the Red Roses until the end of their 2026 WXV Global Series campaign, which includes a trip to North America to play two more Tests against Canada and one against USA Women’s Eagles in New York.
