Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy appointed Wales head coach
He will lead Wales going into the Quilter Nations Series in November.
Tandy joined Scotland ahead of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations and has played an instrumental role in the development of the national team's defence in recent years.
Following an instant impact in his role with Scotland he was selected to join the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.
Tandy previously coached the Waratahs and Ospreys where he won the PRO12 in 2012.
Upon leaving the national team's coaching set-up Steve Tandy said: 'I have loved my time with the Scotland national team and it is a really tough decision to leave.
'I have built up a great relationship with the players and management within the national team and I am proud of the progress achieved since I joined.
'Not only have I loved my time in Scotland, but also the way everyone welcomed my family and made them feel at home has been amazing and will be something I'll never forget.
'The chance to manage the Welsh national team was an opportunity I was unable to turn down, but I leave with a heavy heart and would like to thank everyone I have worked with at Scottish Rugby who have made my time here so memorable.'
Scotland head coach, Gregor Townsend, said: 'We're sorry to see Steve go because he's had a really positive influence on Scottish Rugby. Firstly, with the players that he's worked with and developed, and secondly the work he's done with the team, turning them into one of the best defensive sides in the world. As coaches we have loved working and learning from him.
'He has helped me massively in my role and he's been someone I've leaned on for advice. We've worked together on various ways of improving the environment and the team over the years.
'It'll be sad not having him with us anymore but it's also a massive honour for him to become the head coach of his home country.
'It's very deserved as he's an excellent coach with varied experiences including international rugby for the last five years and we wish him all the best.'
Scottish Rugby Chief Executive, Alex Williamson, said: 'Steve is an extremely popular and talented coach and so we have really mixed emotions. We are disappointed that he is leaving the national team coaching set-up given his invaluable contribution since 2020, but we are also very proud of his achievements and the opportunity he now has to lead the country of his birth. At Scottish Rugby we aim to have the best coaches in the world and Steve is certainly one of them.
'We have worked closely with Abi Tierney and her team at the Welsh Rugby Union to allow Steve to join them and recruitment for a suitable replacement is under way. We hope to have someone in place ahead of the Quilter Nations Series in November and look forward to seeing Steve in Cardiff during the Guinness Six Nations.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu proves too strong for Naomi Osaka in Washington
Emma Raducanu will reclaim the British number one ranking after winning her first meeting with four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka in confident fashion. The clash was hotly anticipated but proved to be not that much of a contest, with Raducanu comfortably clinching a 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. Speaking on Sky Sports, Raducanu said: 'I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters. 'She's so dangerous and on the hard courts I think she's particularly comfortable. I knew I was going to have to play really well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. 'I was making some inroads in her service games after I got used to it a little bit. I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and the conditions here in DC.' The result means the 22-year-old will once again overtake Katie Boulter to become the top-ranked British player as she looks to secure a seeding for next month's US Open. Raducanu ended Boulter's two-year run at the top of the domestic standings in June but then slipped back to 46 in the world after losing a close tussle with Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon. Her two victories here, though, could mean Raducanu returns to the top 40, and she will definitely pass Boulter following her opening round defeat to Maria Sakkari. It will be the Greek that Raducanu plays next, and she has not dropped a set in three previous meetings. Raducanu was sharp from the start against Osaka, who continues to search for a way back to the top of the game after giving birth to daughter Shai two years ago. A double fault from the Japanese star gave Raducanu the first break in the fifth game and the British player was rock solid on serve as she wrapped up the opening set. Raducanu is without a coach in Washington amid uncertainty over the future of her partnership with Mark Petchey and has only hitting partner Alexis Canter in her corner, but there was no lack of direction in this performance. She was helped to another break at the start of the second set by more errors from Osaka, who created a first chance on the Raducanu serve at 1-2 but could not take it. Raducanu's serve has improved markedly under Petchey and was her key weapon here as she moved through to a third quarter-final in Washington with strong hopes of going further. Cameron Norrie could not match Raducanu, though, the British number two beaten 7-6 (3) 6-3 by American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans' hopes of another deep run in Washington two years after he won the title are also over after he lost 6-2 7-6 (4) to France's Corentin Moutet.
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Raducanu beats Osaka but Norrie & Evans lose in DC
Britain's Emma Raducana is through to the quarter-finals of the Washington Open after beating four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in straight sets. After previously upsetting Ukranian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in round one, England's Raducanu produced a dominant performance to beat former world number one Osaka 6-4 6-2. The 2021 US Open women's singles champion will face wildcard Maria Sakkari in the last eight after the Greek player knocked out American second seed Emma Navarro. However, in the men's singles, Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans were eliminated in the last 16. British number two Norrie lost to 14th seed Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-3) 6-3. After a tight first set which was decided by a tie-break, American Nakashima twice broke Norrie's serve in the second to reach the quarter-finals. Evans, who won the tournament in 2023, fought back from 5-3 down and saved a match point to force a tie-break in the second set against Corentin Moutet but the Frenchman prevailed in straight sets, winning 6-2 7-6 (7-4). Raducanu, the British number three, won the first set in 38 minutes after successfully converting her only break point in the fifth game. She then immediately broke Osaka's serve at the beginning of the second set and after saving a break point in the fourth game, broke her serve for a second time to take a 4-1 lead. With Japan's Osaka serving to stay in the match, Raducanu could not convert her first match point in the seventh game. But after spurning a second match point and saving a break point, Raducanu completed the victory at the third attempt, winning the second set 6-2. Raducanu is due to be in women's doubles action later on Thursday, partnering Elena Rybakina against Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi in the quarter-finals.
South Wales Guardian
22 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Raducanu proves too strong for Naomi Osaka in Washington
The clash was hotly anticipated but proved to be not that much of a contest, with Raducanu comfortably clinching a 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. Speaking on Sky Sports, Raducanu said: 'I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters. That was some performance 👏@EmmaRaducanu defeats Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to secure her place in the quarterfinals once again in DC!#MubadalaCitiDCOpen — Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 24, 2025 'She's so dangerous and on the hard courts I think she's particularly comfortable. I knew I was going to have to play really well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. 'I was making some inroads in her service games after I got used to it a little bit. I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and the conditions here in DC.' The result means the 22-year-old will once again overtake Katie Boulter to become the top-ranked British player as she looks to secure a seeding for next month's US Open. Raducanu ended Boulter's two-year run at the top of the domestic standings in June but then slipped back to 46 in the world after losing a close tussle with Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon. Making a statement 😤@EmmaRaducanu battles past Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to return to the quarterfinals in Washington DC.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen — wta (@WTA) July 24, 2025 Her two victories here, though, could mean Raducanu returns to the top 40, and she will definitely pass Boulter following her opening round defeat to Maria Sakkari. It will be the Greek that Raducanu plays next, and she has not dropped a set in three previous meetings. Raducanu was sharp from the start against Osaka, who continues to search for a way back to the top of the game after giving birth to daughter Shai two years ago. A double fault from the Japanese star gave Raducanu the first break in the fifth game and the British player was rock solid on serve as she wrapped up the opening set. A post shared by @emmaraducanu Raducanu is without a coach in Washington amid uncertainty over the future of her partnership with Mark Petchey and has only hitting partner Alexis Canter in her corner, but there was no lack of direction in this performance. She was helped to another break at the start of the second set by more errors from Osaka, who created a first chance on the Raducanu serve at 1-2 but could not take it. Raducanu's serve has improved markedly under Petchey and was her key weapon here as she moved through to a third quarter-final in Washington with strong hopes of going further. Cameron Norrie could not match Raducanu, though, the British number two beaten 7-6 (3) 6-3 by American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans' hopes of another deep run in Washington two years after he won the title are also over after he lost 6-2 7-6 (4) to France's Corentin Moutet.
