Shaun Edwards is hopeful his coaching colleagues at the Welsh Rugby Union will follow his lead in committing to Wales until the next World Cup.
Edwards, who was out of contract at the end of the recent global gathering in New Zealand, has signed a new four-year deal despite being heavily linked with a switch to the England coaching team.
And now the 45-year-old wants fellow coaches Rob Howley and Robin McBryde to do what he and head coach Warren Gatland have done by signing on again until 2015.
“My contract is up to the next World Cup. Roger is trying to get all the other guys together and keep the same coaching team until the next World Cup,” admitted Edwards in a Sky Sports News interview.
“Gats has signed, Rob Howley and Robin McBryde are in negotiation and my new contract is up until 2015.
“Roger Lewis (WRU chief executive) has worked in great haste and been very professional throughout the proceedings.”
Waleslit up the 2011 World Cup with their battling performances in defeats against South Africa and France and especially their wins over Samoa and Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Had it not been for the sending off of skipper Sam Warburton for a contentious tip-tackle on Vincent Clerc in the 18th minute of the semi-final against the French, Wales could well have reached their first final. In the end, though, they went down 9-8.
But Edwards, who won four Premiership titles and two Heineken Cup crowns among his many honours at London Wasps, reckons that reaching the World Cup final is an easier option than winning a RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam.
He helped Wales complete a clean sweep in the Championship in 2008 and will be hoping for a repeat in the 2012 campaign in a few months time.
“Having just been to my first World Cup I realise it is much easier to get to a World Cup final than it is to win a Grand Slam,” said Edwards.
“That’s because of the draw. We could have got into a World Cup final having lost to SA, doing pretty well in our other Pool games, beating Ireland and then France. Then we would have been in a World Cup final.
“When you play in the Six Nations you have to beat France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and then England. That is much harder than reaching a World Cup final.”
