Steve Tandy enters ‘new era’ at WRU as Wales aim to get back among world’s best rugby nations

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Steve Tandy has been officially appointed Wales head coach, with his three‑year contract running through the 2027 Rugby World Cup. A former Ospreys boss and Scotland defence coach, Tandy steps in on September 1 after Matt Sherratt’s interim spell. Tasked with reviving a team recently ranked 14th following an 18-game winless run, he’ll lead Wales into a high-profile Autumn Test series against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Transcript

00:00Now, it doesn't need me to say that Welsh rugby in recent times has not been a happy place.

00:09The Wales men's national team have been on this incredible losing streak.

00:13Of course, for a country who loves rugby so much and sees it as probably their national sport,

00:18it's been, if anything, a bit of an embarrassment saying just how many games they've lost in succession.

00:23Yes, that has now come to an end. Of course, they defeated Japan during their recent tour.

00:27But we did also debate just what would come after that, what would be the next step for Wales

00:34to not just see that as some sort of a huge relief, which of course it was,

00:38but to then build on it and then maintain some sort of form after it as well.

00:43And of course, the next step they've done is to finally appoint a new head coach,

00:47and that is Steve Tandy. And he is a Welshman indeed, of course.

00:50Previously, you had Warren Gatland as the permanent head coach from Australia.

00:54And Warren Gatland, yes, he'd done fantastic things with Wales, perhaps in his first spell with the country.

01:01But then, as obviously we all know, things did not end very well in terms of the results they were having at all.

01:07All those losses, things had to change.

01:10And of course, Warren Gatland ended up departing as head coach.

01:13But now, Steve Tandy has come in to the set-up at Welsh Rugby.

01:19So, just how will he get on and what can we expect from his coaching style?

01:25What can we expect from Wales as a nation now that they finally have someone new at the helm?

01:30So, to find out more, let's go to our Wales sport correspondent, Charles Hague-Jones.

01:34Charles, just what can you tell us about Wales' new head coach

01:38and what we can expect from him in terms of Wales going forward as a rugby nation?

01:46Yes, the WIU have finally got their man a permanent head coach to take the nation forward.

01:52And as you say, this incredibly dark time for Welsh Rugby needs to be cut out

01:58and really taken back to the very best that they've got.

02:01It's a building block.

02:02It's a massive journey that starts now.

02:04Matt Sherratt obviously ended that test-losing streak with the 18 games.

02:10Eventually ended it with a second tour in Japan, the second test there,

02:15which was massive for morale, massive for boost.

02:18And maybe that sort of helped the final decision.

02:21Now, it is Steve Tandy, Scotland's defensive coach since 2019.

02:27But his impact at Scotland really helped sort of reshape them

02:31into one of the world's most disciplined and resilient units in world rugby.

02:35And that is so positive for the WIU and for Wales and the fans that they know.

02:41This group of players have got it in them to be special,

02:44have got it in them to, you know, go all the way once again

02:47and really get back to their very best.

02:51You know, fans, commentators have credited him with improving Scotland's defence significantly.

02:55Scotland conceded only five tries in a notable year, while France conceded 13.

03:02I mean, that just sees the massive difference that Steve Tandy made.

03:05I mean, he's their man.

03:07One massive bonus, deep Welsh roots.

03:10You know, he's born in Tommore, near Port Talbot, sorry.

03:16Tandy played for Bridgen, Neath and the Ospreys, over 100 caps there,

03:20though he never earned a senior Welsh cap.

03:23But he understands what it takes to be a grassroots, you know,

03:27really rooted Welsh player and to be born there as well is fantastic.

03:33He's the first coach, I believe, since 2007 that's actually from Wales as well.

03:39So that gives the nation another boost.

03:41He's going to know what it means.

03:42He's going to maybe feel those defeats a little bit harder

03:45and enjoy the wins a little bit more with this group of Welsh players.

03:49So that's a massive bonus, in my opinion.

03:51He coached the Ospreys as well to the Pro 12 title in 2012.

03:57He served on the British and Irish Lions coaching team during 2021.

04:02And he's coached internationally with the Walthorse and Scotland as well.

04:06So massive experience internationally.

04:09That's going to boost them as well.

04:10Obviously, Matt Sherrod, fantastic when he came in.

04:12But to have international level experience is so different to club rugby experience as well.

04:20It'll be Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa,

04:23all in the autumn internationals around November time.

04:26Massive chance to get things up and running.

04:29He's going to enjoy this, I believe.

04:31It's going to be a fantastic stint for the WIU.

04:34And hopefully they can get over the line against some very top nations

04:37in that autumn series to look ahead to that 2027 Rugby World Cup.

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