Riki Flutey: Shaun Edwards will 'add so much value' to the Red Roses

Riki Flutey knows Shaun Edwards better than most. The pair spent three seasons together across two spells at Wasps. This weekend, they will find themselves on opposite sides when England face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium.

Their first season together ended with Wasps winning the 2007/08 Guinness Premiership. A year later, Flutey was coached by Edwards 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 his role as defence, backs and skills coach of a Black Ferns team that are yet to lose a game since Whitney Hansen took charge of the team at the start of 2026.

It will be the first time that Edwards has coached an England team. In their last WXV Global Series outing, England’s 39-match winning run came to an end with a 26-26 draw with Canada in a repeat of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.

Speaking shortly after England Rugby confirmed that Edwards had joined the world champions, Flutey was quick to recognise what Edwards will bring to the team.

“I’m actually really looking forward to catching up with him,” Flutey told RugbyPass. “I don’t know if he’ll speak to me before the game – he might want to say hello, or he might want to wait until afterwards! I’ve got a huge amount of respect for him.”

Flutey added, “He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever been coached by. I learned so much from him, both from a strategy and technical point of view, particularly around defence, but also mindset and mentality.

“From what I remember of Shaun, he keeps things really simple, which is really important for players. Every environment he’s been in, he’s been one of the most successful coaches – definitely in the Six Nations.”

Edwards has one of the most formidable CVs in rugby. A 10-year stay with Wasps yielded 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 have been similarly successful, with the team claiming a 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam, as well as back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026. He left his role with Fabien Galthie’s team earlier this year, despite having 18 months still left on his contract.

The 59-year-old will now lend all those years of experience to the Red Roses coaching staff, working alongside England’s most-capped international, Sarah Hunter, who has been the team’s defence coach since her retirement in 2023.

On top of his association with Edwards, Flutey has worked closely with England head coach John Mitchell. At Rugby World Cup 2023, the pair were assistant coaches in 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 they’ve got an amazing defence,” he said. “Shaun is just going to add so much value.”

Edwards will remain with the Red Roses until the conclusion of their WXV Global Series 2026 campaign, which includes a trip to North America to play two more Tests against Canada and one against the USA Women’s Eagles in New York.