Wales name Tandy as new head coach

Steve Tandy has been appointed as the head coach of Wales.

The Scotland defense coach has completed his commitments to Gregor Townsend’s team’s summer tour and will return to his home country of Wales on September 1.

Former Neath and Ospreys flanker, 45, was working for Scotland under a release agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Tandy has a three-year contract, according to WRU performance director Dave Reddin, which will extend him until 2027’s World Cup in Australia.

Warren Gatland, who resigned during the Six Nations in February, has been sought out by the WRU as a permanent replacement.

Matt Sherratt, a Cardiff native, agreed to stay put for the duration of the tournament on a temporary basis before moving on to Japan for the summer tour.

Tandy’s first game as manager will be against Argentina in Cardiff on November 9th, followed by additional autumn internationals against South Africa, Japan, and New Zealand.

With Welsh rugby in disarray and a national team in crisis, Tandy will have his work cut out.

In July, Wales briefly fell to 14th place in the world rankings before regaining 12th place.

A 21-month losing streak that culminated with their victory against Japan in Kobe earlier this month was finally ended with them clinching 18 straight Test defeats.

“I’m looking forward to helping the Welsh rugby team rebuild and return to square one against the best nations in the world,” said Tandy.

“I’m excited about Welsh rugby’s potential and our group of young, diligent players.”

Tandy was born in Tonmawr, but he did not play for Wales as a national team. He did, however, play for the local team Neath RFC and then Ospreys.

After coaching Ospreys between 2012 and 2018, the former back row will make a comeback in Wales.

In his first season in charge of the region in Swansea, he won the Celtic League.

Before joining Scotland in 2019, Tandy left the Ospreys for a role with the Australian side Waratahs.

In 2021, he also served as the defensive coordinator for Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad in South Africa.

Abi Tierney, the union’s executive director, claims that Tandy was the “standout candidate” and that the Union had chosen the job’s best coach.

As we look to achieve sustainable success for our senior men’s side, Tierney said, “This is a keystone appointment for us and an integral part of our five-year strategy.”

As a proud Welshman, Steve “fits the bill” in terms of the bond he will have with a young group of players with great potential as well as the galvanizing effect he can have on the entire rugby ecosystem.

New WRU rugby director Reddin took the decision to choose Tandy.

During the interview process, Steve’s coaching journey and the approach he has taken to learning and developing have impressed us, according to Reddin.

He embodies the systematic and collaborative approach that I want to impart to our high-performance system.

Steve is a great coach, and he has a strong desire to learn and grow. Everyone in our system is going to value these traits highly.

Who will make up Tandy’s backroom staff has not been made public, but Wales will look to hire some former campaign managers.

Sherratt, a head coach of Cardiff, and Gloucester assistant Rhys Thomas, a current Gloucester assistant, are both being considered for positions under Tandy.

Reddin stated that Tandy would not “only select his backroom staff,” but that Tandy would “fully participate in that process and that they would do that together.”

Steve is a key component of the Welsh rugby team’s future strategy, and I’m going to make sure he has the time, resources, and support to fully exploit the potential of the talented group of players he will have, Reddin said.

Alex Williams, the head of Scottish Rugby, claims he was “delighted” by Tandy’s departure.

Williams stated that the Welsh Rugby Union has collaborated closely with Abi Tierney and her team to allow Steve to join them and that a suitable replacement is being sought.

We have mixed feelings because Steve is a very well-known and talented coach.

Steve is one of the best coaches in the world, according to Scottish Rugby.

Tandy “has had a positive impact” on Scottish rugby, according to Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

He has greatly aided me in my role and offered me advice, Townsend said.

Over the years, we’ve collaborated on various initiatives to enhance the team’s environment.