Aviva Premiership Rugby club London Irish have confirmed that Shaun Edwards will no longer work with the club and that Brian Smith will look after their defence.

Wales Assistant coach Edwards joined the club in the middle of last year on a consultancy basis but he will now concentrate on his commitments with the Welsh Rugby Union as they prepare for the fourth coming Six Nations Championship and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: "I have always been a supporter of Shaun Edwards and that will not change."

"He is a world class defence coach and has put in place structures, strategies and techniques that we will take forward. I will step up on the defensive side for the remainder of this season. "

"We would like to thank him for his efforts over the last six months and wish him well for the future."