Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy has been appointed as the new Wales head coach and will leave Scottish Rugby on 31 August 2025, it was announced this week.
He will be in post in time to take charge of Wales ahead of the newly-minted “Quilter Nations Series” in November – the Autumn Internationals to us mortals.
Tandy joined Scotland before the 2020 Six Nations after a defensively appalling 2019 World Cup in Japan, and has played a key role in shaping the national team’s defence over the past few years.
He made an immediate impact in the role and was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2021.
“I’ve absolutely loved my time with the Scotland national team, so this has been a really tough decision to make. I’ve built great relationships with the players and coaches here and I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made together. Not only have I loved working in Scotland, but the way people have welcomed my family and made us feel at home is something I’ll always remember.”
Before his time with Scotland, Tandy coached the Waratahs and the Ospreys, leading the Welsh side to a PRO12 title in 2012.
It follows the news last week that Bryan Easson will step down from his role as Scotland Women’s coach following the World Cup this summer, a role he’s held for the last five of his twenty-five working within the Scottish Rugby system. During his tenure Scotland rose from the 11th ranked side to a high mark of 5th.
We wish them both well for the future.
13 responses
Big loss for Scotland on both accounts. Will be interesting to see how Townsend gets on without Tandy, i believe he was popular with the squad. Great move for Tandy though. This will secure Townsends next term with the team as they won’t want total disruption. Mixed feelings on that one. On the other hand looks like the Women’s team will be starting from stratch on coaching squad going forward. Did they do enough to keep Easson? momentum is building and he’s transformed the women’s game. BBC said he’s going to England? maybe premiership.
I would still make changes (plural). The lions tour has shown where we are. Consider the first test 23 consisted 3 scots, 7 english, 13 Irish. Is that a benchmark of where we really are.
I don’t think it is. The two Test 23s selected reflected Andy Farrell’s persistent faith in his Ireland squad and his preference for England players to complement them.
But for injury, Zander Fagerson would have been seriously considered for starting tight head. Darcy Graham should have been picked in the first place – an omission highlighted by the indifferent performances from Freeman so far and the rank rotten ones (apart from that neat scoring pass) from Lowe.
Cummings was much better than Ryan in the midweek match and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on the bench for the final Test.
Ben White – another who should have been in the original tour party – has played very well and is better than Mitchell and, arguably, JG-P.
We have changed almost all of the coaching staff bar the gaffer himself. He has come on a lot in the last few years IMO. Still room to improve, if we are willing to wait.
I am intrigued to see who is the next cab off the rank re defence coach. McGuigan is doing well with Sale and England’s defence looked great during his secondment… having worn the jersey, could he be lured north? Richie Gray is another contender, although I suspect the SRU don’t have the money to match what NFL consultancy work pays. It’s a shame that Pete Murchie is off to Japan. They are not renowned for foresight but the powers that be should have seen this coming. Maybe they did…
I think the other Richie Gray’s business is too successful to get mired up in SRU business, he’d be a very unlikely pick and seems to prefer life as a roving consultant. I mean if Jacques Nienaber wants a real challenge he should bin off Leinster’s defence and come sort Scotland’s defence with a view to taking over the top job…
A great point and we would love that to happen, I just wonder how feasible it is . Could Tandy have taken over the top job ? I do not know how we could lure JN with the Top Job carrot when Tandy (successful as he was for us) didnt hang around.
I believe Toony’s contracted till April 26. So appointing JN now would only give the Autumn tests to judge if he was ready for the Job.
I mean he coached SA to a Lions series win and a World Cup so I’d say he’d be up to the job… if not necessarily up FOR it…
He is a shoe in then ! if he fits in . Lets throw the dice.
Watching Scotland Women v Italy in World Cup warm up. Whilst understanding the disruptive build up, the first 25 mins have been shocking. Hoping for a massive rebound
Much more like it in first 20 v Ireland. Thomson on fire!
I never thought that Gatland’s bias towards out of form Welsh players could be topped but Andy Farrell has managed to do it with aplomb. Pushing Huw Jones out to the wing to accommodate Aki and his son takes the biscuit especially after Tuipulotu (the best 12 in the squad by a mile) was robbed of a place in the test 23. Cummings played out of his skin against the Waratahs but was never given a fair chance after that unlike powder puff James Ryan. Ben White also played out of his skin but couldn’t get past an average Mitchell. Porter isn’t any better than Schoeman and even keeps Genge out. Other than Finn, our lads have had a very raw deal down under.
The third test needs a postmortem. It was lost on selection IMO.