Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, April 25.
Edwards admits England job tempted him after 2015 World Cup
Shaun Edwards has admitted that he was tempted to leave his job as Wales' defence coach after the 2015 World Cup to take on the challenge of turning England around.
In 2015, England were seeking to recover from a horrendous World Cup, when Edwards' Wales helped knock them out in the pool stage on home soil. Stuart Lancaster departed the role, with Eddie Jones ultimately taking over.
READ MORE: The extensive Wales casualty list ahead of South Africa tour
However, Edwards, who had been working under Warren Gatland for seven years at that point, admitted that the talent at England's disposal made the job an enticing prospect.
“I fancied going there definitely after they got knocked out of the World Cup, when they didn't make the last stage in 2015," he said on BT Sport's Rugby Tonight. "I looked at the Saracens players all coming through, and to me it was an absolute no brainer that they were going to win some Six Nations competitions, in the forthcoming, what I call four-year cycles.
"And Eddie (Jones) came in and did a great job and won the first two which was no surprise to me. Because they had some outstanding players and they had a lot of players who’d obviously had it tough after the World Cup and there’s nothing like somebody’s a bit disgruntled, those are the type of players you want to prove themselves and they did it, the England lads. Saracens also won a few trophies.”
Obviously, Jones got the job with England, while Edwards, who has since moved onto a role with France, stayed with Wales for another four years until the end of the 2019 World Cup. Edwards also spoke about the time he was approached by England to be a part of Andy Robinson's coaching ticket before he took up the job with Wales.
“Yes, (there was an approach from England) in 2006, when Mr Robinson was in charge," he explained. "But it was a couple of years after my brother had died, tragically died in a car crash.
"I asked my mother, who passed away herself last year, I said 'do you think I’m ready, mum?' Because a bit of downtime, I was head coach at Wasps at the time, super busy, every day, minutes taken up, and she said ‘I don’t think you’re ready’. And it was the right decision.”
Newport seal Premiership Cup triumph
Newport beat Aberavon 25-21 in the Premiership Cup final at the Principality Stadium on Sunday.
A tense finish saw the the Black and Ambers condemn the Wizards to their fourth final defeat. The Gwent side led 6-17 at half-time but a second-half comeback made sure the game went down to the wire.
Will Reed kicked 15 points for Newport and secured the final turnover that sealed the victory.
“We made it hard for ourselves by losing a line-out in the last 10 seconds when all we had to do was take it and kick it out. I’m just happy to have come out on the right side of what was a quality cup tie,” said skipper Matt O’Brien.
Scorers: Newport: Tries: J Morris, M O’Brien; Pens: W Reed5. Aberavon: Tries: I Davies, pen try; Pens: A Thomas 3
Aberavon: Jonathan Phillips; Chris Banfield, Joe Thomas, Will Price, Stef Andrews; Aled Thomas, Rhodri Cole; Rowan Jenkins, Ieuan Davies, Geraint James, Shay Smallman, Sam Williams, Ashton Evans, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves (capt)
Reps: Iwan Temblett, Dan Edwards, Joe Gage, Lloyd Evans, Luke Davies, Rhodri Hughes, Rhys Fawcett, Chris Davies
Newport: David Richards; Jon Morris, Cameron Lewis, Matt O’Brien (captain), Elliot Frewen; Will Reed, Luke Crane; Louis Jones, Henry Palmer, Garin Harris, George Young, Josh Skinner, Rhys Jenkins, Lennon Greggains, Ben Roach
Reps: Jamie Jeune, Lewis Smout, Dan Suter, Andrew Mann, Josh Reid, Che Hope, Will Talbot-Davies, Dafydd Smith
Neath and Trebanos also emerged victorious in Cardiff over Bargoed and Bedwas respectively.
Former Springbok captain dies aged 81
Former Springboks scrum-half and captain Dawie de Villiers has died aged 81 after a long battle with cancer, South African Rugby announced on Sunday.
De Villiers represented Western Province, Boland and Transvaal and played 25 times for the Springboks - making his debut against the British and Irish Lions in 1962. Away from rugby, De Villiers was a minister in the first democratically elected South African government from 1994, under President Nelson Mandela.
Earlier, he had been part of a delegation from the then ruling National Party that met the outlawed African National Congress (ANC) and helped unban the organisation. South African Rugby Union president Mark Alexander described De Villiers "as one of the greatest Springboks captains".
"Dawie was hugely respected as a sportsman and a politician," he said. "He became part of the political winds of change as our country moved toward democracy. He was a great servant of South Africa. To lead South Africa as long as he did in the amateur era and to hold the record for appearances as a Test captain until the dawn of professionalism says everything about his stature as a player and leader.
"He was a great and loyal servant of Springbok rugby and we pay tribute to his dedication and the service he gave to the sport and South African life."
England women thrash Ireland
England produced another dominant Women's Six Nations victory as they beat Ireland 69-0 in front of a second successive record crowd.
The 15,836 Welford Road fans surpassed the record of 14,689 for a ticketed England home game set in Gloucester. Ireland had managed to restrict England to just two tries in the first-half, but the floodgates opened after half-time - with nine tries being run in after the break to set up a Grand Slam decider against France.
England's Emily Scarratt celebrated her 100th cap in her home town of Leicester with 10 points from the tee. It is a 22nd victory in a row for England as they chase a fourth successive Six Nations title before October's World Cup.
