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Times
an hour ago
- Times
Steve Tandy: I found out about Louis Rees-Zammit's return from my daughter
Good news has been a scarce commodity in Welsh rugby and the new national head coach only heard about the welcome return of Louis Rees-Zammit when he was informed by his 14-year-old daughter. 'She was telling me, 'Zammo's back,' ' Steve Tandy said. 'I'm like, 'Quick, give me the phone!' ' Confirmation that Rees-Zammit, the 24-year-old wing, would be ending his attempt to break into the NFL to renew his rugby union career came last week, six days before Tandy's first public engagement in his new role on Thursday. As his job entails reviving the fortunes of a Wales side who recently ended an 18-match losing streak with a narrow victory over Japan, taking over a squad painfully short on experience, the return of a wing who exhibited world-class qualities came as a considerable early fillip to the Tandy era. 'It's a great boost to the game, to fans and to coaches,' he said. 'The excitement that Zammo brings just by coming back is great for the game. Everyone will like getting Zammo back in the mix.' Rees-Zammit's time away from the sport neatly encapsulates the grim period that Wales endured under Warren Gatland, Tandy's permanent predecessor, and Matt Sherratt, who took interim charge after Gatland left during the Six Nations. The last of the wing's 32 caps was the first of that ignominious 18-match streak, the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina, and in the 18-month spell that he was trying his hand in the NFL, Wales won only one game. Having previously played for Gloucester, Rees-Zammit has yet to determine which club he will join, but as his tally of caps exceeds the 25 required by WRU rules, he will not need to sign up with a Welsh region to resume his international career. As he prepares to begin his tenure with autumn internationals against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, Tandy would not discount the possibility of a swift Wales return for Rees-Zammit. 'You wouldn't rule anything out,' he said. 'Zammo, I'm pretty sure, will be in outstanding physical condition. We've got some outstanding back-three boys, but adding Zammo makes it even more competitive.' Tandy, 45, is making his own return to Welsh rugby after a substantial time away. Hailing from Tonmawr, near Neath, he was a hard-nosed flanker for Ospreys, becoming head coach shortly after his retirement. He subsequently specialised in defence, first with the Waratahs in Australia before beginning the six-year stint with Scotland, working under Gregor Townsend, that ended with his recent appointment back home in Wales. During his time with Scotland, he acted as defence coach for the British & Irish Lions on their 2021 tour to South Africa and he is determined to make bringing a harder edge to a Wales defence that conceded 25 tries in five Six Nations matches last season his priority. 'Coming from a defensive background, you want something really robust and resilient around that,' he said. 'We're going to be really tough in that area. But I want our group to have ambition, that if there's something to play, they go and play. I want them to believe that when they go out there, they can go and express themselves. But we definitely want that robust nature around the [defence], because that does fundamentally underpin outstanding teams.' The recent Lions squad that toured Australia featured only two Wales players and, once Tomos Williams had returned home with injury, Jac Morgan was the solitary Welshman. Increasing this representation for the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2029 would be a measure of the progress Tandy has made with the side from their position as 12th in the world rankings. Along with Morgan and Williams, players such as Dewi Lake, the hooker who captained the side in Japan, and Dafydd Jenkins, the lock who missed the tour through injury, will be pillars around whom Tandy can build. 'I'd love to see the next time it comes around, us getting more [in the Lions squad],' Tandy said. 'A lot of that will be underpinned by how well connected we get with the players, how we can accelerate their development. We've got lots of talent and we can get to that point of putting more people in the shop window for the next Lions tour.' The word 'development' is a crucial aspect in Tandy's appointment. Wales's slump was precipitated by losing so many experienced players in a short period, so fast-tracking promising young players to become comfortable on the international stage will be as much part of his role as the blending of elite performers. 'We have to nurture them, we have to coach them, we have to be around them more than probably any time before because they are a young group,' Tandy said. 'It's about building incrementally, there's no magic wand. We understand where we're at.' Tandy has yet to appoint his assistant coaches and will do so in conjunction with Dave Reddin, the former England rugby and FA performance expert recently appointed as the WRU's director of rugby and elite performance. This being Welsh rugby, there will also be political elements for the new pairing to negotiate, especially as there is a widespread acceptance that the recent results were not a mere blip, but a reflection of a professional structure that is not fit for purpose. The WRU announced last month that it was conducting formal consultations that could lead to the number of regional sides being reduced from four to either three or two. 'We've got to build something that suits us, not following anyone else,' Tandy said. 'I'm coming into this with my eyes wide open.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Manchester United agree £73.3m deal to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig
Manchester United have agreed a £73.3m deal with RB Leipzig to sign Benjamin Sesko. The striker will join on a five-year deal and become Ruben Amorim's fourth summer signing. Newcastle had battled Manchester United for the striker and offered a similar package to the German club but Sesko preferred a move to Old Trafford. United will pay an initial £66.3m and the rest in potential add-ons for the 22-year-old, who scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last season. Sesko will travel to Manchester and undergo a medical before finalising the move. The arrival of Sesko will take United's spending to a possible £214m, after the signings of Matheus Cunha, Diego León and Bryan Mbeumo. Sesko will be an integral part of Amorim's front three, along with Cunha and Mbeumo, as United aim to improve on their 44 goals from 38 league games last season. It will be the first time Sesko has played professionally outside the Red Bull group of clubs. He moved to RB Salzburg as a teenager from his native Slovenia, where was playing for Domzale. An immediate loan to Liefering, Salzburg's reserve team in the second tier, was highly beneficial and he spent two seasons, scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances. Salzburg gave the imposing Sesko his Austrian Bundesliga debut in January 2021 and two and a half years of impressive goalscoring form resulted in the natural move to Leipzig. Sesko won three titles during in Austria – though he made meaningful contributions only to the second and third – and became a Champions League regular, netting six times in 28 appearances in the competition. The 6ft 5in Sesko, who has 41 caps, is aggressive in the air but also offers pace and clinical finishing. He is not the finished article but has shown great potential and Amorim will be eager to mould him into the striker he desires after watching the struggles of Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion United could still move for a central midfielder but sales will be important after the heavy spending. The arrival of Sesko will throw the future of Højlund into doubt. United are open to selling or loaning the striker, although they would want his wages covered and a fee paid for the latter. The club are still trying to offload Antony, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
The day Scottish football could feel good about itself
Scottish football fans could be forgiven for glancing out the window to make sure the sky is still blue. Well, of a men's Euros last year with a whimper, not even at this year's women's event, and a club game with a co-efficient dropping through the floor. Yeah, Scottish football has drama, but sometimes, it's not very Thursday 7 August, 2025 is the day it all changed. It's the day Our Wee Bit Hill and Glen was rewarded with two Ballon d'Or nominees - one man, one woman - then followed it up with a pair of non Old Firm sides going away in Europe and delivering two heroic results. Hibs steal show in Serbia It's never a good sign when a team's supporters are called The Gravediggers. Hibernian traversed Europe to face Partizan Belgrade, still carrying the baggage of heartache from the previous week. In Europa League qualifying, they took Midtjylland to extra-time, only to lose with an agonising - and spectacular - Junior Brumado bicycle kick. Glorious failure etc. But not this time. Now in Conference League qualifying, the Edinburgh club blew away their hosts - who were on a five-game winning streak - finishing the game 2-0 and a man to the hero of the hour? Martin Boyle. The Scottish-born Australian international took his Hibs goal tally to 101. The Gravediggers were buried. It'll take some effort for them to overhaul the tie in Edinburgh next week."To come here and win 2-0 is unbelievable, it took some effort," said Easter Road boss David Gray."We asked the players to come over here, give everything and to make sure the tie is still alive when you go home, we've certainly done that."We've put ourselves in a fantastic position but I've just reminded the players that's all it is at the moment in time." Utd's courage shines through While Hibs were cruising in Belgrade, around 400 miles north in Vienna, Dundee United displayed character and dig to stun Rapid in a 2-2 a third-round qualifier in the Conference League, Jim Goodwin's side twice came from behind inside a bouncing Allianz Stadion against one of last season's quarter-finalists. First it was Max Watters who brought them level, before Zac Sapsford repeated the feat in the second the goals are only half the story. United faced 21 shots while having just 38% of the ball. Brave defending, acrobatic goalkeeping from Yevhenii Kucherenko, and a bit of luck all played their part. History plays its part in emphasising how significant this result could be. Last week, United progressed in Europe for the first time in 28 years by seeing off UNA Strassen of Luxembourg. It hints at how hard life can be on the continent. The last time United played in Europe prior to this season they lost 7-0 to AZ, albeit after winning the first they've given themselves a chance here. In a second-half of constant pressure, they didn't buckle, and an already sold-out Tannadice awaits next Thursday."Outstanding away performance from Dundee United to a man," said former Tannadice midfielder Scott Allan."Jim Goodwin will be absolutely delighted. Take this game back to Tannadice and it's all to play for." Ballon d'Or seeing double Before a ball was kicked on Thursday, Scotland had already scored two huge emerged Napoli and Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay had been nominated for the Ballon d'Or. At the same time, it was also announced Real Madrid's Caroline Weir had been shortlisted, is the first time both a man and a woman from Scotland have made their respective lists, and the most Scots nominated in the one year since 1984 (Graeme Souness, Paul McStay and Gordon Strachan).Neither will come as a huge surprise. McTominay - Manchester United fans, look away now - has been the totem for the locals in Naples who sang his name in the streets as their team claimed the Serie A title. He also was awarded the Serie A player of the year Spain, Weir is now going into her fourth season at Real Madrid, where she is the club's all-time leading female goalscorer. Ten came last season in the league for Las Blancas as they finished second in Liga F, along with eight assists. Seventeen strikes were netted in all competitions. Is Scottish football booming? It came a day earlier, but an honourable mention has to also go to Rangers who convincingly beat Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox to take a giant stride towards the Champions League play-off Martin's side were far from convincing in the second qualifying round, but they still found a way beyond Panathinaikos across two legs. All of these results are much needed for Scotland's ailing co-efficient. This season Celtic face a play-off round to get into the Champions League rather than direct entry, and the country needs as many teams as possible to make into their respective league is a train of thought that Scottish football, for all its drama, intrigue and excitement, wasn't always the best quality. However, the vast majority of clubs in the top flight are spending money, attendances are up, and there is a feel-good factor back. Let's hope Thursday 7 August, 2025 isn't the outlier, but a signal of good times to come.
