Steve Tandy Set for Shared Say in Wales Coaching Setup Amid Interim Plans
Steve Tandy may be the new head coach of Wales, but he won’t be calling all the shots when it comes to selecting his backroom staff.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has made it clear that Tandy won’t have the final word on his coaching team — at least not on his own.
Dave Reddin, the WRU’s director of rugby and elite performance, confirmed that decisions will be made jointly, with interim coaches possibly stepping in during the transitional period.
“Steve won’t solely select his backroom staff, but he will be fully involved in that process,” said Reddin.
“So we’ll do that together. We both agree that we want that to be a similarly rigorous process that we’ve engaged with in Steve’s appointment.”
This move signals a wider cultural shift within Welsh rugby. Rather than rushing appointments, the focus is firmly on finding the right people — not just the next in line.
“It is about getting the right people in those spots as opposed to just getting the next people. So, the guys in the summer have done an outstanding job,” Reddin added.
“Matt (Sherratt) and the team have done an outstanding job as interim. And who knows what happens in the future, but we’ll go through a rigorous process.”
While Tandy officially starts on 1st September, the upcoming Autumn Series means some quick, and perhaps temporary, decisions may need to be made.
“With an Autumn Series coming up, it may be that we’ll have to make some interim decisions in the pursuit of getting the people that we want,” Reddin explained.
“It might well be that people are in position already and we need to be a bit more patient.”
So far, there’s no shortlist of names for permanent positions. But several coaches from the summer tour — including interim boss Matt Sherratt and former international stars like Leigh Halfpenny and Adam Jones, could be in the mix for longer-term roles.
Earlier this week, confirmation of Steve Tandy’s appointment as Wales head coach signalled the beginning of a new era under his leadership, following careful planning by the WRU.
Whispers around Sherratt potentially stepping into the role of attack coach continue to grow louder. Others, like Gethin Jenkins (defence) and T. Rhys Thomas (skills), may also stay involved in some capacity.
Meanwhile, changes continue behind the scenes. Defence coach Mike Forshaw has left for Leicester Tigers, and forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys is also expected to exit soon.
“There’s a change process going on,” said Reddin. “From a first team perspective, Steve and I are going to work together.”
“The Union has been cleaning up the contracts from the previous era. Some of them have been given notice and I think that’s appropriate.
“It doesn’t mean they’re out of the picture for anything in the future. It just means the process is restarting with Steve coming in.”
Tandy, the former Ospreys boss, will lead Wales under a three-year contract, a term Reddin believes strikes the right balance.
“Steve has a three-year contract and we felt that’s the right balance between the security we’ll want to give a new coach and the time he will need to embed his philosophy,” he said.
“I think that struck the right balance between the safety and security, which I think is essential for any coach coming in, and the balance for us as an organisation of not having a huge long-term contract when no one can predict the future.”
This isn’t just a new chapter for Steve Tandy — it’s a full-on rebuild. While he’ll help steer the ship, the WRU is making sure it’s a team effort. Interim decisions, a focus on process, and patience will define the months ahead.
