Jonathan Davies told Wales coach he had to keep Shaun Edwards before row erupted
Wales legend Jonathan Davies and comedian Mike Bubbins have weighed in on Shaun Edwards' exit from Welsh rugby.
Appearing as guests on the latest episode of BBC Scrum V's The Warm Up, Alex Cuthbert, Davies and Bubbins were joined by presenter Lauren Jenkins ahead of the weekend's European rugby, and former Wales defence coach Edwards was on the agenda.
The Englishman left his role with Wales in 2019 after not being offered the four-year contract he desired. Instead, the Welsh Rugby Union were only offering him a two-year contract, like the rest of the Wales coaching staff at the time. Edwards declined that offer and was swiftly picked up by Test giants France.
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Davies, affectionately known as 'Foxy', explained on the show just how valuable a coach Edwards was to his players, whilst acknowledging his unique character.
"Shaun, he'd put boys on edge because of the way he was and the standards he wanted," began Davies. "But he cared so much about you as an individual. He'd always try to make you better. He'd always put time into his players.
"So there were two sides of Shaun that made you want to perform, he made you want to not miss tackles. He was brilliant, when you had him at the end of a campaign he was good fun.
"So, he had a great mix, but sometimes you just wouldn't know."
"Were you scared of him?," asked presenter Jenkins.
"Oh yeah, first time," answered Davies. "When you're walking down a corridor and you get ready to say hello to someone, Shaun would walk in and you'd go (makes face as if he's about to start talking), and he'd just carry on walking! Sometimes he would. I think that was just his unique character."
"But how on earth did we let him go?," asked Bubbins. "Every player I spoke to who played under Shaun Edwards has said the same thing. I know that he was hard work to deal with and manage, I'd imagine, because he is a very forthright person.
"But our job as a country in that situation, if he's keen to work in Wales, should have been to manage him properly, to make him feel valued and make him want to stay here. I have never met a player who played under Shaun that didn't rate him so highly."
Davies added: "I was asked by a previous Welsh coach for my opinion on Shaun. I said I would do everything I can to keep him because whatever it costs you, he'll give you that back in the performance. I'm not saying they didn't listen to me, but..."
"He's done alright, since, hasn't he?!," quipped Cuthbert.
You can watch the clip below.
Edwards had first informed Wales he was going to be heading back to rugby league, linking up with Wigan Warriors following the conclusion of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. However, in March 2019, it became apparent that he would be pulling out of that deal and was available to re-negotiate.
By April, it seemed like Edwards was staying put in Wales as negotiations began, but it failed when the WRU wouldn't offer him the four-year deal that would take him through to the 2023 World Cup. Wayne Pivac, Wales head coach at the time, later said Edwards' decision of being based on "individual choice and probably a financial one". It was a comment that sparked something of a public row, with an incensed Edwards contacting WalesOnline to set the record straight.
"I am disappointed with Wayne Pivac's comments, he has no idea what my salary is in France," he said.
"The Wales team is on the greatest run in the history of Welsh rugby with 14 international victories in a row. We have recently won the Grand Slam and a fourth Six Nations title under our head coach Warren Gatland.
"I have been a part of them and have given Wales 12 years of loyal service, enjoying my time here immensely and having a great rapport with the Welsh public, who I love.
"There's a lot to be excited about with the World Cup around the corner. I suggest we just do our own jobs and concentrate on the World Cup."
