Shaun Edwards, the most decorated player in rugby league history, is gearing-up for another rugby union Six Nations tournament.

There was a suggestion that after almost 13 years in international rugby union, he was poised to go back to his old league club Wigan as head coach.

Instead, with Wales RU dragging their feet over a new offer, he signed a four-and-a-half year contract to be part of the new coaching team with France.

Now 53-year-old, and regarded as one of the best defensive coaches in the world, Edwards has been charged with turning France into potential champions when they host the World Cup in 2023.

He’s already had a crash course in French rugby phrases with ‘vitesse de ligne’ (line speed) among the most used so far.

Listening to him, you get the impression that Sunday’s opening game in the Six Nations – at home to England in Paris – has just come a little early in his shift, before he’s properly got himself acclimatised to live with Les Bleus.

It’s also clear that Edwards would dearly love to be involved with England in the future.

He did get a call in 2006 while he was head coach at Wasps when Andy Robinson offered him an England contract.

But the timing wasn’t right as it came when he was still raw from the death of his brother.

He hopes, that someday perhaps, another offer will come but for the moment the only item on his to-do list is to help France to that important opening win over England.

* Success in South Africa, with a fair sprinkling of young blood, suggests the start of a new era for English cricket.

But after 16 years, it’s the end of an era for a man who has become part of the fabric of England tours.

Billy Cooper has been the trumpeter in the Barmy Army over that period but after 52 Tests abroad he’s decided to call it a day.

Monday’s win in Johannesburg was only the 15th that Billy has witnessed, but it’s been more about taking part than winning for the classically trained musician.

It all started when he misplaced his trumpet while attending a Test match in Barbados, simply as a fan.

The next Test was in Antigua when he heard and spotted his trumpet among the ranks of the Barmy Army.

He was able to prove that the instrument was his and he was subsequently invited to join the Barmy Army – all expenses paid – for the next tour abroad.

Before then he became part of that jovial band for the home Tests and he has been a fixture ever since.

Now he says it’s time to call it a day – as far as touring is concerned – and will be spending more winter time with his wife and family.

The messages of good luck and thanks from some of cricket’s biggest names have clearly shown how much his rendering of Jerusalem and other classics have endeared him to the actual performers out there in the middle.

Typical, in the last Test was his celebration of Zak Crawley’s maiden half-century with “Land of Hope and Glory” which was interpreted by the Barmy Army as “Land of Hope and Crawley”.

All good fun. He will be fondly remembered.

* The progress made by women’s football over the last 18 months appears to have been phenomenal.

Attendances have soared; a TV show featuring the sport reports exceptional viewing figures and sponsorship is climbing all the time.

Yet some of the competing teams in the Women’s Super League are still being classed as second-class members of their particular clubs.

There are 12 competing teams – three of which (Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City) are fully integrated with their respective men’s teams.

Four others get access to the men’s facilities but two clubs ask their players to bring in sandwiches for after training.

There have been women reported playing in children’s boots because they are the only ones that fit them while some clubs’ accommodation are said to have serious rodent problems.

Three of the biggest names in the game – Man United, Liverpool and Spurs – appear to have problems integrating their womens’ teams into their clubs.

Spurs women can only use the pitches on the club’s 77-acre facility once a week.

Man United women never train at Carrington and there are no plans for the Liverpool women to be allowed to use the club’s expensive new set up at Kirkby.

Until men and women’s teams receive the same level of support from their clubs, how can they feel valued the same.