Wales Name Tandy As New Head Coach

Steve Tandy has been named Wales men's caput coach.

The Scotland defence coach vanished his commitments pinch Gregor Townsend's squad during their summertime circuit and will nexus up pinch his autochthonal Wales connected 1 September.

The 45-year-old erstwhile Neath and Ospreys flanker was nether statement pinch Scotland but nan Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has agreed a woody to merchandise him.

The nonstop magnitude of Tandy's Wales statement has not been disclosed but nan WRU says he will beryllium successful complaint until astatine slightest nan 2027 World Cup successful Australia, pinch nan denotation being nan governing assemblage seeing his assignment arsenic a semipermanent move.

"Becoming caput coach of my location state is simply a monolithic honour and a privilege," said Tandy.

The WRU has been looking for a imperishable successor to Warren Gatland, who resigned during nan Six Nations successful February.

Cardiff's Matt Sherratt took complete connected a impermanent ground for nan remainder of nan tourney and past agreed to stay successful spot for nan summertime circuit of Japan.

Tandy's first crippled successful complaint will beryllium against Argentina successful Cardiff connected Sunday, 9 November, earlier further autumn internationals against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

He is nan first homegrown imperishable caput coach of nan men's Test broadside since Gareth Jenkins was sacked successful September 2007, though chap Welshmen Nigel Davies, Robin McBryde and Rob Howley person taken interim complaint since then.

Tandy will person his activity trim retired arsenic he takes connected a nationalist broadside successful situation and pinch Welsh rugby successful disarray.

Wales concisely slipped to a grounds debased of 14th successful nan world rankings successful July, earlier returning to 12th wherever they presently stand.

They had suffered a grounds tally of 18 consecutive Test defeats, a 21-month losing series which was yet halted with triumph against Japan successful Kobe earlier this month.

"I americium looking guardant to playing a domiciled successful nan rebuilding shape of Welsh rugby and taking nan nationalist squad backmost to competing pinch nan champion countries successful nan world," said Tandy.

"I americium excited astir nan imaginable of Welsh rugby and nan group of young, hard-working players we have.

"The autumn fixtures correspond a immense opportunity and springiness america a chance to trial ourselves against immoderate of nan champion teams successful world rugby."

Born successful Tonmawr, Tandy played for section broadside Neath RFC and past Ospreys but was not capped by Wales.

The erstwhile backmost statement will return to Wales aft coaching Ospreys betwixt 2012 and 2018.

He won nan Celtic League title successful his first play successful complaint of nan Swansea-based region.

Tandy near Ospreys for a domiciled pinch Australian broadside Waratahs, earlier linking up pinch Scotland successful 2019.

He besides held a defence coach domiciled pinch Gatland's British and Irish Lions squad successful South Africa successful 2021.

WRU main executive Abi Tierney says Tandy was nan "standout candidate" and that nan Union had secured nan "very champion coach" for nan job.

"This is simply a keystone assignment for america and an integral portion of our five-year strategy arsenic we look to execute sustainable occurrence for our elder men's side," said Tierney.

"Steve fits nan measure successful position of nan affinity he will beryllium capable to create pinch a young group of players pinch immense potential, but besides nan galvanising effect we cognize he tin person connected nan full rugby ecosystem arsenic a proud Welshman.

"Our task now is to guarantee Steve has nan support and resources he needs to win successful this role."

The determination to spell for Tandy was overseen by caller WRU head of rugby Dave Reddin.

"Steve's coaching travel and nan attack he has taken to his ain learning and improvement since leaving nan Ospreys impressed america during nan question and reply process," said Reddin.

"He embodies nan collaborative and systematic attack to building occurrence that I want to instil crossed our high-performance system.

"Steve is an fantabulous coach pinch nan information and curiosity to proceed to study and create very overmuch a portion of his DNA. These are hugely important characteristics for everyone successful our system."

There has been nary charismatic news of who will dress up Tandy's backroom staff, but Wales will look to enlistee immoderate coaches who person been progressive successful nan past 2 campaigns.

Cardiff caput coach Sherratt is successful statement to beryllium onslaught coach, while existent Harlequins scrum coach Adam Jones and Gloucester adjunct Rhys Thomas are besides being considered for roles nether Tandy.

"Steve is simply a captious portion of nan early strategy for occurrence successful Welsh rugby and I will guarantee he has nan space, clip and support to realise nan imaginable of nan breathtaking group of players he will person astatine his disposal," said Reddin.

"He brings a wealthiness of experience, a unsocial knowing of Wales and nan young talent we person astatine our disposal and a immense magnitude of passion and desire to excel successful nan role."