Edwards out of GB running

Rugby league legend Shaun Edwards has ruled himself out of contention to become the next Great Britain coach - but only in the short term.

The Wigan great, who remains arguably the most successful player ever produced by the 13-man game, has revealed that he was head-hunted for the job by Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis.

"If I were to do the job properly, I would need to live in the north in order to be hands-on," the 40-year-old Wasps coach told BBC Radio Manchester. "So at the moment I have pulled myself out of race for the GB job. That's not to say later in life it won't happen - maybe I'd love to coach GB one day - but, at this time, it's just not right for me."

Edwards made 452 appearances in a 15-year career at Wigan, where he won every honour in the game and played in each of the club's record eight consecutive Challenge Cup victories at Wembley.

The former dual-code England schoolboy captain ended his career with brief spells at Bradford and London Broncos before embarking on his coaching career at Wasps in 2001.

The League are thought to have drawn up a shortlist of candidates, with Australian Shaun McRae thought to be among the favourites, and an appointment could be made by the end of the month.

"It is a confidential process but it's moving on well," said a League spokesman.