Shaun Edwards played his only game of Rugby Union for England so long ago that Ollie Campbell’s goals had just made Ireland joint champions of the Five Nations.

Shaun Edwards’ decision to join France’s new-look coaching set-up after the World Cup was rumoured for so long that it was far from a surprise when it was finally confirmed. But it still raised a few eyebrows.

When Wayne Pivac sat down with his Wales squad to outline his expectations for the 2020 Six Nations this week, he did so with the Championship’s trophy alongside him.

Robin McBryde was a baby at birth in Bangor...

The Irish provincial video analysts will be busily plugging into footage of the French Top 14 ahead of this season’s European Champions Cup. All four representatives have been handed French assignments over the next three months - with Connacht getting a double helping.

Shaun Edwards is irreplaceable in the Wales set-up after another master class from the defence guru put Warren Gatland’s side on the brink of a Six Nations Grand Slam.

The battered champions will be wincing through their pain today at a pearl of wisdom first spoken by an Anglo-Irishman just before he won the world heavyweight title: “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

A Saturday to savour in Dublin was made even sweeter by a cracking performance from Scotland in defeating back-to-back Six Nations champions England in Edinburgh, writes Donal Lenihan.

The tiny margins that will shape today’s Six Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.

Shaun Edwards says he would listen to a head coach’s offer “in rugby league or rugby union” if one came his way.

Joe Schmidt has backed Ireland’s “great decision makers” to successfully adapt to whatever conditions or opposition gameplan they face when Wales visit Dublin for this Saturday’s crucial NatWest 6 Nations showdown.

Stuart Lancaster has played down the growing hype surrounding the potential St Patrick’s Day Grand Slam showdown between England and Ireland.

Since its rebranding as the Champions Cup, the big beasts have thundered down an all too predictable road, relentless in their crushing of lighter opposition, writes Peter Jackson.

The roof will be closed, the ball will be relatively dry and the track will be fast, so we’re in for a rip-roarer in Cardiff, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Shaun Edwards has admitted that star wing George North “was not at his best” in the defeat against Scotland that effectively ended Wales’ RBS 6 Nations title hopes.

Shaun Edwards has delivered a detailed analysis of the Wales "mistake" that potentially cost them victory over England.

England and Wales. Two countries steeped in rugby history with a rivalry to match.

Now that Ireland’s painful abdication from their crown has come to pass, England and Wales will fight it out next week for the right to claim the Six Nations throne.

Forget the debacle that was England’s World Cup campaign, Ireland believe that in landing Andy Farrell as their new defence coach, they have staged a coup in hiring a British & Irish Lions series winner.

Jamie Roberts has no doubt that an extended preparation period will help Wales arrive at the World Cup later this year in prime physical and mental shape.

The last time Ireland won back-to-back titles, they sailed home from Liverpool to Dun Laoghaire carrying nothing much more than the clothes they wore. And they travelled third class, with the selectors in first.

A study of the Welsh display in Saturday’s victory over Ireland should be required viewing for any defensive rugby coach hoping to make a name for themselves.

Late Saturday afternoon. The second Six Nations game of the weekend is still very much in the balance in Twickenham, but another Englishman is the name on everyone’s lips in Cardiff. 

Simon Easterby insists Ireland will not be drawn into a war of words or indulge in any mind games with their Welsh counterparts before the countries meet in round four of the Six Nations in Cardiff tomorrow week.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has relegated powerful centre Mathieu Bastareaud to the bench for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris.

Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has launched an attack on Six Nations rivals Ireland by criticising their use of the choke tackle.

Wales 16 England 21: RBS Six Nations: If England do go on to do something rather special in 2015 then we may look at this as the moment when Stuart Lancaster’s men came of age.

England have hit back in the escalating row over obstruction that has ignited the build-up to Friday’s RBS 6 Nations opener in Cardiff by stating that Wales use similar tactics.

RBS Six Nations: Wales v England: Shaun Edwards believes Wales are "in a better place" ahead of this season’s Six Nations Championship than they were 12 months ago.

South Africa 38 Wales 16

RBE 6 NATIONS:

After just two championship outings Ireland find themselves with a Triple Crown on offer when the team travels to London in just under a fortnight.

Mike Phillips claims friendships made on last year’s victorious Lions tour between the Irish and Welsh players will be put on the back burner this weekend in Dublin.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster insists Chris Ashton remains a wing option against France as he puts the finishing touches to selection for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener.

Wales captain Sam Warburton has played down the appointment of Irishman Alain Rolland to referee Saturday’s Millennium Stadium showdown against South Africa.

Warren Gatland last night said there is no room for sentiment in professional rugby but he reiterated that the decision to drop Brian O’Driscoll for the final Lions test in Australia was one of the toughest calls he had to make.

Warren Gatland took England defence coach Andy Farrell on the British and Irish Lions tour with him so he could get an insight into how Wales’ Six Nations rivals will prepare for the World Cup clash between the sides.

Rugby issues are often black or white with the former teacher.

YOU often hear rugby pundits say the Six Nations is about momentum.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss the rest of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship after being banned for insulting a referee.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse will miss the rest of this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship after being banned for insulting a referee.

Richard III’s remains may have been discovered in a car park in Leicester earlier this week but Owen Farrell would do well to pay greater heed to Shakespeare’s Henry IV ahead of England’s visit to Dublin this weekend.