I have met Martin a few times socially and there is no doubt he is the type of guy I would get along with
Shaun Edwards has revealed he has a burning desire to work alongside new England boss Martin Johnson.
But he will have to wait three years after committing himself to London Wasps and Wales.
Edwards was sorely tempted when Johnson tried to persuade him to jump ship.
But he snubbed England’s World Cup-winning skipper because he had already promised to help his old pal Warren Gatland at Wales.
Edwards, 41, has signed a dual three-year deal as backs coach with the WRU and head coach of Premiership champions Wasps.
But he admits he is keen to work with Johnson, 38, even though it is now likely to be after the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
He said: “Martin and I had a brief meeting.
“But the thing was I had already agreed to go to Wales and agreed to extend my contract at Wasps.
“I have met Martin a few times socially and there is no doubt he is the type of guy I would get along with – without a shadow of a doubt.
“I would like to work alongside him in some capacity one day.
“Whether that happens in the future, who knows? As I said to Martin, I had a deal with Gat.
“He is one of my best mates and I wouldn’t go back on my word. But in the future there is no doubt the enthusiasm of Martin Johnson and his views on the game of rugby are very similar to mine.
“I am not the kind of person who moves around a lot and that has been the same with my coaching at Wasps.
“I have done seven years now and I have signed on for another three.
“For the foreseeable future I will certainly be staying at Wasps – but you never know what will happen.
“I’m not the type of person who looks too far ahead anyway.”
Ex-Great Britain rugby league international Edwards has more immediately set his sights on becoming a member of Ian McGeechan’s British Lions backroom staff for next summer’s tour of South Africa.
Edwards is in pole position to be handed a job by McGeechan, who is his current director of rugby at Wasps and is well aware of everything he brings to the party.
He said: “Geech has not announced his support staff yet.
“I have still got my fingers crossed, hoping I will be on the Lions tour.
“If I do go over there it will be beneficial that I went over to South Africa this summer and learned a bit about the country and the style of rugby that they play.”
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