SPORTS DIGEST:Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards is to join the London Irish coaching staff after the Grand Slam winners' summer tour to Australia.
The English Premiership club confirmed the former Wasps coach will join the coaching team following the news Toby Booth, Justin Bishop and Neal Hatley are to leave the club. Edwards will continue in his role as Wales defence coach, but spend one day a week at the Premiership side as allowed under his contract, it was reported in the Guardian.
Edwards was a key member of the Wasps coaching team when the club claimed Premiership titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the Heineken Cup in 2004 and 2007.
He joined Wales as defence coach under Warren Gatland in 2008, helping them win the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and 2012.
The former Great Britain rugby league international told the Exile’s official website: “I’m excited at the opportunity of being involved in a Premiership club set up again.”
London Irish’s director of rugby Brian Smith will also take on a more hands-on coaching role to run the team’s attack.
Harlequins’ Robshaw is player of the season
Harlequins and England captain Chris Robshaw has been named Player of the Season at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards.
Robshaw’s England team-mate Owen Farrell, the Saracens outhalf or centre, picked up the of the season award.
And Exeter’s Rob Baxter was named director of rugby of the season in recognition of the Chiefs qualifying for the Heineken Cup after just two seasons in the top flight.
Under Robshaw’s captaincy, Harlequins finished top of the Premiership table and this Saturday face a home semi-final against Northampton at The Stoop. Robshaw captained England in only his second Test appearance and led the new-look national team to four wins in the Six Nations.
Retiring London Irish player Bob Casey was named community player of the year.
Premiership Dream Team: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Horacio Agulla (Leicester), George Lowe (Harlequins), George Pisi (Northampton), Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester); Toby Flood (Leicester), Haydn Thomas (Exeter); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Dan Cole (Leicester), Samu Manoa (Northampton), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), James Scaysbrook (Exeter), Nick Easter (Harlequins).
Auckland Blues to advertise for a new head coach
The Auckland Blues are to advertise immediately for a new head coach for next season after a miserable 2012 campaign.
Incumbent Pat Lam will remain in charge for the remainder of this campaign and would be “eligible” to apply for the job, the three-times Super Rugby champions said in a statement. Semi-finalists last year, the Blues came into the season with high expectations but their 35-19 loss to the Wellington Hurricanes last weekend left them bottom of the standings with just one victory in their first 10 matches.
Lam has come in for a barrage of criticism as the Blues have continued to underperform despite having eight players in their squad who helped New Zealand win the World Cup. Some of the criticism, which Lam dubbed “racist”, focused on the Auckland-born former All Black’s Samoan heritage and reduced him to tears at a press conference last month. Blues chairman Gary Whetton said immediate action was needed.
