A new era for Welsh rugby is set to begin, with former British & Irish Lions coach Steve Tandy confirmed as the new Head Coach of the Wales senior men’s team.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced today that Tandy, 45, will take the reins on September 1st, tasked with leading the national side through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The appointment marks a homecoming for the Tonmawr-born coach, whose impressive and varied career has seen him coach at the highest levels in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
A Proven Track Record
Tandy is no stranger to top-tier coaching. He was part of the British & Irish Lions coaching setup in 2021 and has just completed a tour with Scotland, where he was an integral part of their coaching team against the New Zealand Maori, Fiji, and Samoa.
His coaching journey began after a successful playing career as a flanker for Bridgend, Neath, and over 100 appearances for the Ospreys. He then famously graduated to Head Coach of the region, leading them to a dramatic Pro 12 (now URC) title in 2012, beating a star-studded Leinster side 31-30 in the Dublin final. After six years with the Ospreys, he moved to Australia to join the NSW Waratahs coaching staff.
The “Standout Candidate”
The WRU hailed the appointment as a critical step in its long-term strategy.
“We are delighted to appoint Steve as the new Wales head coach,” said WRU CEO Abi Tierney. “After a thorough and detailed appointment process, Steve emerged as the standout candidate, and we know we have secured the very best coach for the job.”
Tierney described the role as a “keystone appointment” and praised Tandy’s ability to connect with a young squad and galvanise the entire Welsh rugby community.
“Our task now is to ensure Steve has the support and resources he needs to succeed in this role,” she added.
Echoing those thoughts, WRU Director of Rugby and Elite Performance Dave Reddin praised Tandy’s modern approach.
“He embodies the collaborative and systematic approach to building success that I want to instil across our high-performance system,” Reddin said. “He brings a wealth of experience, a unique understanding of Wales and the young talent we have at our disposal and a huge amount of passion and desire to excel in the role.”
“A Massive Honour”
For Tandy, the appointment is the realisation of a dream.
“Becoming head coach of my home country is a massive honour and a privilege,” Tandy said in a statement.
He acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed excitement about the future.
“I am looking forward to playing a role in the rebuilding phase of Welsh rugby and taking the national team back to competing with the best countries in the world. I am excited about the potential of Welsh rugby and the group of young, hardworking players we have.”
With the autumn fixtures on the horizon, Tandy is ready to hit the ground running.
“The autumn fixtures represent a huge opportunity and gives us a chance to test ourselves against some of the best teams in world rugby.”
