Is Steve Tandy the right man to lead Wales?

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is on the brink of making some pivotal appointments that will determine the direction of the game in the years ahead. Among them, the most anticipated is the new head coach, a position that is likely to be filled by Scotland’s defence coach Steve Tandy, who is expected to work under newly appointed director of rugby Dave Reddin.

On paper, Tandy seems to tick many of the boxes required for the job. He has developed a strong reputation as one of the best defence coaches in world rugby, particularly during his time with the Waratahs in Super Rugby and his current role with Scotland. Under his guidance, Scotland has enjoyed a more solid defensive structure, conceding just 150 points in his first two Six Nations campaigns. Tandy’s defensive prowess, coupled with his well-regarded man-management skills, makes him an appealing candidate to help drag Welsh rugby out of the doldrums.

Wallabies legend Kurtley Beale, who worked with Tandy at the Waratahs in 2021, was very impressed with what he saw and made these intriguing observations.