Shaun Edwards' first step into international coaching could be with the England Saxons, after Wasps chief executive Tony Copsey warned the club would be unlikely to sanction a part-time role with Wales.

Edwards, the Wasps head coach, has been offered a position on Warren Gatland's new-look Wales management team - while England want him as head coach of the second-string Saxons.

The former Great Britain rugby league captain is a man in demand - but his commitment to Wasps means he is interested only in a part-time international role.

The chance for Edwards to link up with Gatland, his close friend and former Wasps colleague, has obvious attractions - not least the chance to work in Test rugby.

As a coaching team at Wasps, Gatland and Edwards won a hat-trick of Premiership titles and the 2004 Heineken Cup.

But even if the conflict-of-interest issues are cleared up - Wales could open the Six Nations against an England squad featuring up to 10 Wasps players - the complications could prove too great.

Copsey told BBC Wales: "I can't see us sanctioning something like that, in all honesty. We would look at it, but I don't see how it could work. The commitments for a coach internationally are a hell of a lot.

"If you look at next year's programme there would be 11 weekends just for games, where he would be unavailable to us.

"If we're going to lose our head coach for half the season I don't see really much point in that."

A position with England's second string would certainly suit Wasps better, with the Saxons playing only twice during the season before the Churchill Cup in the summer.

England's head coach Brian Ashton is a confirmed fan and would clearly like Edwards involved in the national set-up.

"Shaun Edwards is an outstanding coach, not just a defence coach," said Ashton.

"We have got to have coaches who have an ambition and view on the whole of the game.

"To whichever team he was making a contribution, it would be a very, very good one."

Unfortunately for Ashton, while Edwards is still employed by Wasps he is not available to work with the full England squad.

Premier Rugby introduced the regulation, because it was deemed any club coach seconded by the national team would gain an unfair advantage.

The RFU made a specific request for Premier Rugby to amend the regulation in order to get Edwards involved - and on Monday they agreed to do so, but only with regard to the Saxons.

"In the spirit of renewed co-operation, it has now been agreed that Saxons coaches can now be employed while still employed by clubs," said the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew.

"We're in the process of talking to Shaun about whether he might have a role in that area."

Edwards met with the Rugby Football Union's head of elite coach development Kevin Bowring yesterday and was offered the Saxons job. He is not expected to make an announcement on his decision until at least the weekend.

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