Shaun Edwards is the most decorated Rugby League player in history with thirty-seven winners’ medals. Joining the esteemed Wigan Warriors at 17 for a record fee at the time of £35,000, Shaun would go on to have an illustrious career as both a player and a highly sought after coach. Winning three World Club Championship titles amongst many other accolades, Shaun Edwards is no stranger to the meticulous work that goes into achieving success as well as maintaining it. As a speaker he is no different, able to share useful insights for success and teamwork, Shaun is a fantastic speaker to engage and inspire your audience.
Shaun’s natural leadership abilities were evident from an early age as he captained both England’s Rugby League and Rugby Union teams at schoolboy level. With his first senior club Wigan Warriors he would win the World Cup Challenge title in 1987 and 1991. After winning his third World Cup Challenge with Wigan in 1994, Shaun moved from Wigan Warriors to the London Broncos, where he led them to the 1999 Challenge Cup at Wembley. Shaun also made a significant mark on the international stage, becoming Great Britain's youngest-ever player when he started against France in 1985. Whilst playing, he accumulated eight Rugby Football League Championship titles, nine Challenge Cup titles and seven Regal Trophy titles, solidifying his reputation as a highly respected authority on Rugby League strategy and leadership. Beyond his tournament victories, Shaun’s sheer determination earned him the prestigious Man of Steel Award in 1990.
In 2001, Shaun joined Rugby Union’s London Wasps as their defence coach, becoming their head coach in 2005. Whilst with Shaun, the wasps won the English Rugby Union Championship in succession from 2003 to 2005, as well as the Heineken Cup in 2004. Shaun also led the team to victory at the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2006, another Heineken Cup in 2007 and a Rugby Union Championship in 2008. As head coach of Wales, Shaun won Grand Slams in 2008, 2012 and 2019, in addition to the Six Nations Title in 2013. Attesting to his undeniable impact on the teams he coaches, Shaun was deservedly honoured as the 2008 Rugby World International Coach of the Year. Shaun went on to serve as Defence coach for the British & Irish Lions on their 2009 South Africa tour and most recently found a place with the French national team as their defence coach in 2020. Instrumental in reshaping France’s defence strategy, they won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2022 and 2025. Alongside his coaching, Shaun also shared his expert analysis as a columnist for the Guardian from 2007-2013, and is currently serving as one for the Daily Mail. He also acts a pundit for the BBC, Sky Sports, BT Sport and Radio 5 Live.
In recognition of a legendary career and his service to the sport, Shaun was awarded an OBE in 1996. His status as a hometown hero was further strengthened in 2008 when he was inducted into the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame. This legacy of excellence extended in 2015 when he was officially added to the Rugby League Hall of Fame, immortalising him as one of the most decorated and influential figures in the history of the game. For his work as an ambassador for charities such as Looz Heads, Joining Jack Charity, Matt Hampson Foundation, Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation and The Wooden Spoon children’s charity of rugby, Shaun was also awarded a star on Wigans 'walk of the stars', an honour only six currently possess.
Shaun Edwards is a fantastic keynote speaker who can grab an audience’s attention from the very first word. With an unparalleled career of success and leadership at the most elite level of Rugby, Shaun is known for using these experiences to deliver insightful words on teamwork, maximising performance and overcoming adversity to name just a few. Shaun’s one-of-a-kind perspective will be instrumental for any organisation aiming for sustained excellence and a culture of success.
Shaun Edwards' official speaking topics are listed below:
- Developing a Winner’s Mindset: Drawing from his experiences both as a player and a coach, Shaun discusses the mental and psychological strategies necessary to cultivate a mindset geared towards winning and high performance.
- Leadership: Shaun offers insights into effective leadership, illustrating how to inspire and guide teams to achieve their best. He uses examples from his time coaching teams like the French national team and Wales, highlighting the qualities that make a successful leader.
- Maximising Performance: Shaun delves into techniques and methods to maximise team and individual performance, sharing his knowledge on how to get the best out of athletes under his guidance.
- Overcoming Adversity: Through personal anecdotes and professional experiences, Shaun speaks about resilience and overcoming challenges, both on and off the field. His career is filled with examples of bouncing back from setbacks and maintaining focus under pressure.
- Team Building: He emphasises the importance of building strong, cohesive teams. Shaun’s coaching philosophy includes creating a supportive and high-performing team environment, essential for achieving success in competitive sports.
- Motivation: Shaun is known for his ability to motivate and inspire athletes. He shares his methods for maintaining high levels of motivation and enthusiasm, crucial for sustained success in sports.
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events:
"I have known Shaun for 10 years and have coached with him at Premiership Club level (London Wasps) and International level (British Lions). He is the best defence coach with whom I have ever worked. He creates outstanding defence systems, not only because he understands defensive requirements, but because he has an excellent understanding of attack principles. He challenges players and coaches to think differently, but gives real clarity to the roles required, both individually and collectively. He has, better than any other coach, married the best of Rugby League and Rugby Union. He is also a natural motivator. I have had some great discussions with him, about players and tactics which, without doubt, pushed forward my own tactical and technical thoughts. Shaun has exciting ideas and very well thought out practices. All this comes from very honest discussion but leads to a very strong team direction. He is very honest with players and coaches and he has the ability to read and assess players from which he gives them all the required support. The harder a player works, the more support Shaun gives him. Shaun has a tremendous “rugby intelligence” from which I have seen many players benefit hugely. He will give any time that is required to make sure a player has the best opportunity to succeed. His analysis of players and teams is thorough and astute and he communicates this with real clarity. With Shaun you get total commitment, and he has always recognized that appreciating things done well and enjoying success is also very important. He, more than any one, knows how much time and effort has to go into any success, that is why he has been associated with successful teams. He is a person I trust totally, and whose company I have always enjoyed." - Sir Ian McGeechan
“Shaun is precise and knows exactly what he wants on the pitch. With his experience and his record, everyone listens” - Antoine Dupont, France Rugby Captain
"Having played professional rugby for 15 years I have naturally been under the tutelage of a few coaches but three will always be head and shoulders above the rest. Sir Ian McGeechan, Wayne Smith and Shaun Edwards had skills beyond all others mainly because of their unselfish dedication to make their players the best they can possibly be. I joined Shaun at Wasps on the back of winning a World Cup so imagine how most coaches would have been. Accommodating, false praise or simply left to my own devices as I’d been there and done it. Not a chance with Shaun. His attention to detail about where my weaknesses were inspired me to play my best club rugby ever. The balance of carrot and stick was exactly what I needed as I aspired for more team success. I loved the handling skills, the specific defence techniques for a scrum half as well as a view of the game from a man who just gets rugby. On and off the pitch!! I never once questioned Shaun’s advice as I truly knew he had my best intentions at heart. If I delivered, he had delivered." - Matt Dawson MBE, World Cup Winner 2003
“The way he could read a game was like no other.” - Jason Robinson OBE, Rugby World Cup Winner and Wigan Warriors Teammate
- 2025 - Rugby Columnist for the Daily Mail
- 2025 - Six Nations Title as France’s defence coach
- 2022 - Six Nations Grand Slam & Six Nations Title as France’s defence coach
- 2022 - Began coaching French Barbarians
- 2022 - Won Grand Slam with France as defence coach
- 2020 - present - France Defence Coach
- 2019 - Triple Crown Title
- 2018 - European Challenge Cup Title
- 2008 - International Coach of the Year
- 2007 - 2013 - Rugby Columnist for the Guardian
- 2007 - European Championship Title
- 2006 - Anglo-Welsh Trophy Title
- 2004 - European Championship Title
- 2003 - European Challenge Cup Title
- 2003 - English Premiership Title
- 2002 - Head Coach, Wasps Rugby Club
- 2001 - Coach for London Wasps
- 1999 - London Broncos
- 1998 - Inducted into the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame
- 1998 - Bradford Bulls
- 1997 - London Broncos
- 1996 - Awarded OBE by HRH
- 1989 - Balmain Tigers
- 1987 - World Cup Challenge Title
- 1985 - Youngest Ever Player to Play for Great Britain
- 1983 - Signed for Wigan at 17 for record fee of £35,000
How to hire Shaun Edwards
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Shaun Edwards for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
