Steve Tandy emerges as WRU’s answer to Wales’ rugby crisis as Gatland era ends

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Steve Tandy is poised to be named as the next head coach of Wales, marking a significant shift for Welsh rugby as the union looks to rebuild after a challenging period. Sources indicate that Tandy, currently Scotland’s defence coach and previously head coach of the Ospreys, is the leading candidate, with Simon Easterby and Franco Smith also considered, but the Welsh Rugby Union is set to offer him the role as Warren Gatland’s long-term successor. However, Tandy is not expected to take charge in time for this summer’s tour of Japan, with Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt and Harlequins’ Danny Wilson likely to oversee the two-Test series on an interim basis.
Tandy’s coaching credentials have been enhanced by his success in transforming Scotland’s defence since joining in 2019, earning widespread praise for making them one of the most disciplined units in international rugby, and his experience includes a stint as part of Gatland’s staff during the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. Should he accept the WRU’s offer, Tandy is expected to bring Sherratt in as attack coach, while Wilson and Ospreys assistant Duncan Jones are in contention for the forwards coach position, and the union is also keen for Adam Jones to remain as permanent scrum coach after his recent secondment from Harlequins during the Six Nations. “Turning around Welsh rugby’s fortunes will be no easy task with the national side having gone a record 17 Test matches without a victory, which includes back-to-back wooden spoons,” a source close to the WRU noted, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.
The WRU’s “One Wales” strategy aims to see the national team ranked in the world’s top five and to revitalize its four professional clubs—Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets—though the immediate focus is on the Japan tour, with contingency plans in place if Tandy’s release from his current contract is delayed. Sherratt, who stepped in as interim head coach midway through the Six Nations after Gatland’s departure, was unable to secure a win despite improved performances, while Wilson brings experience from successful spells with Wales U20s, Dragons, Scarlets, and a Challenge Cup win with Cardiff, and is currently head coach at Harlequins. The WRU is also expected to announce Dave Reddin, a former Football Association performance chief, as its new director of rugby in the coming days, signaling further changes at the top as Welsh rugby seeks to restore its competitive edge on the international stage.