Warriors return: Edwards' incredible factfile

Shaun Edwards will bring a wealth of experience when he returns to his hometown club in 2020. Here are some facts about the Wigan legend...
Shaun Edwards and, right, Shaun Wane welcome Joe Lydon to WiganShaun Edwards and, right, Shaun Wane welcome Joe Lydon to Wigan
Shaun Edwards and, right, Shaun Wane welcome Joe Lydon to Wigan

For what was believed to be a record fee of £35,000 for an amateur player, Edwards signed for Wigan at his parents’ house at midnight on his 17th birthday, October 17, 1983.

Making his debut in November ‘83 in a routine 30-13 win over York in the John Player Special Trophy, what was to come was beyond anyone’s guess as he went on to claim 37 major honours over the next 14 years.

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Edwards is fourth on the club’s all-time tryscoring charts (274) and 6th on the number of appearances, with 467.

He played in every Challenge Cup game on Wigan’s incredible eight-year run from 1988 to ‘95, and was also a winner in the ‘85 epic against Hull FC.

Edwards made 36 Great Britain Test appearances.

In 1990 after a guest stint in Australia, Edwards was awarded the Man of Steel award in a year which saw him enjoy a Cup Final win over Warrington which gave the now halfback a hard man status thanks to him playing on with a fractured eye socket and depressed cheekbone.

He also picked up eight Championship winning medals, and won the World Club Challenge on three occasions.

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He was awarded an OBE for his services to the sport by the Queen in 1995.

After spells at Bradford Bulls and London Broncos, Edwards retired from playing in 2000.

He gained coaching experience with Wayne Bennett at Brisbane Broncos and then joined Premiership side Wasps Rugby Union in 2001 where he helped them to four Premiership titles and two European Cup’s as defence and backs coach under Warren Gatland and latterly, as then as Head Coach, under Sir Ian McGeechan.

In 2008, Edwards was reunited with Warren Gatland when he took an assistant coach role at the WRU. He helped the nation to Grand Slam success in 2008 and 2012 as well the RBS 6 Nations title in 2013. Wales also reached the last four of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

He was awarded the Rugby World International Coach of the Year in 2008 and was a member of the British & Irish Lions coaching staff that toured South Africa in 2009.

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