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The WRU have finally appointed a new head coach to the Men’s international team: Scotland’s defence guru Steve Tandy. The appointment was rumoured some months ago, but finally announced a week after the conclusion of Wales’ tour to Japan. Here’s everything you need to know about Wales’ new boss:
Tandy played as a flanker for Neath in the pre-regionalisation era and joined the Ospreys on their formation in 2003. He stayed with them until 2010, winning 3 league titles and an Anglo-Welsh cup.
Tandy cut his teeth with Bridgend in the Welsh Championship before taking over from Sean Holley as Ospreys head coach part way through the 2011/12 season. The Ospreys went on to win the league that season, their 4th title in 8 years and still most recent trophy.
Over the next 4 seasons he guided the Swansea based regions to 2 top 4 finishes, winning 68/110 league games. However, he departed the region mid way through the 2017/18 season with them 6th in conference A (11th overall) in the revamped Pro14, with 4 wins from their first 13 games.
After leaving the Ospreys, Tandy headed to super rugby where he joined Australian side NSW Waratahs as defence coach, officially being announced 7 game in to the 16 game regular season. The Waratahs topped the Australian conference in 2018 - up from 4th the previous season - and won their Quarter Final match against the Highlanders before going out against eventual runners up the Lions in the semis. The following season, Waratahs dropped to 3rd in the Australian conference with 6 wins from 16 games, missing out on the playoffs.
Tandy was appointed Scotland defence coach in December 2019 ahead of the 2020 Six Nations. Scotland finished 4th in his first tournament with 3 wins from 5 and conceded the fewest points of any side with just 5 tries against overall.
Over the next 5 Six Nations campaigns they finished 4th in all but 2023, conceding an average of 12.5 tries per tournament. At the World Cup, Scotland were eliminated at the pool stages in both 2019 and 2023, conceding 126 points in 8 games combined.
Tandy’s highest honour came in 2021 when he was appointed as defence coach of the British and Irish Lions for the tour to South Africa. Tour head coach Warren Gatland said:
“Steve has made Scotland’s defence one of the most organised in world rugby – something we saw throughout the recent Six Nations. He’s clearly an intelligent coach and someone I am very much looking forward to working with.”
The Lions conceded just 10 tries in their 6 warm-up games ahead of the 3 test series with South Africa. They won the first test but lost the subsequent two, conceding 4 tries in total across the 3 match series against the Springboks.