Wales Move to Tie Up Edwards Before Johnson Regime Swoops

Wales hope this week to secure Shaun Edwards' services through to the 2011 World Cup, so thwarting any attempt by England to persuade the Wasps coach to join Martin Johnson's management team. Johnson is expected to be confirmed as England's team manager within days rather than weeks and the 2003 World Cup-winning captain will be given the power to choose his coaching team.

Edwards, who has won at least one trophy with Wasps in each of the past five seasons before helping Wales to the grand slam last month, is highly rated at Twickenham, but England have missed their chance. The appeal to Edwards of continuing to work with Wales as defence coach is twofold. First, he has a long-standing friendship with the head coach, Warren Gatland, from their time together at Wasps. Second, he would be able to continue working with Wasps, a club he regards as family. If he linked up with England he would have to leave Wasps.

"We had long negotiations with Shaun and Wasps last Friday and this is a very important week for us," said Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union. "It is complicated because we are talking about contracts between Shaun and Wasps, Shaun and the WRU and Wasps and the union. We are into the nitty-gritty of the detail and, at the end of the Six Nations, Shaun said he wanted to stay with Wales until the end of the 2011 World Cup."

It is nearly three weeks since Johnson met the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew, to discuss becoming team manager. His initial interest has grown into a desire to take on the new role, but some of the details of his contract remain to be resolved and talks were being held yesterday.

Johnson may even demand the title of head coach, which clashes with Brian Ashton's job description. He would then surround himself with a team of specialist coaches, as did his World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, who wrote in this week's Sunday Times: "If I were Martin I would demand the title of head coach."

The RFU today holds its monthly media briefing. It is keen to announce something positive, knowing that otherwise questions will center on its treatment of Ashton, who in the past six months has guided England to a World Cup final and their best Six Nations finish for six years but has not been kept informed of developments.