Wales' new chief speaks for first time on head coach search, Steve Tandy and unpopular calls

Wales Online

25-04-2025

Wales' new chief speaks for first time on head coach search, Steve Tandy and unpopular calls
Wales' new director of rugby gives his first interview
Dave Reddin, Director of Rugby and Elite Performance
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
Dave Reddin has revealed that Steve Tandy is in the running to become Wales' new head coach, insisting he's ready to make bold, even unpopular, decisions to shake up Welsh rugby.
Reddin has today been unveiled as the WRU's new director of rugby and elite performance and his first job will be to appoint a head coach with Tandy the favourite to get the role, while the likes of Ireland's Simon Easterby and Glasgow's Franco Smith have also been heavily linked with Wales.
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"Steve is one among many names who are contenders," Reddin told WalesOnline. "He would certainly be in contention with a decent amount of other people.
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"A couple of days ago we had a two-hour briefing from all of the people that had been involved with that process so far. I understand the process they've been through so far to identify talent.
"That started with about 150 names globally which is not necessarily a difficult exercise to do. There's been some filtering of that list down.
"I want to pick up the reigns now and I'm going to be working intensively on the head coach appointment in the next few weeks. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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"We are in the double-digit range. It's a longer shortlist, if that makes sense.
"I'm aware there's been lots of names in the press but from my point of view no decision has been made yet. I'm two days in from being involved in the process.
"I want to make sure that's really robust. I know that Abi (Tierney), Richard (Collier-Keywood) and the board are keen that this is the right appointment and not just the quick appointment.
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"We need to make some more time on that to make sure we get it right."
Reddin was part of the England coaching team which won the 2003 Rugby World Cup under Sir Clive Woodward, while he has also worked for the FA.
He will join the WRU full time on September 1 but will progressively increase his involvement from July 1. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
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Reddin has a difficult task on his hands with the men's national team in the middle of a record 17-game losing run while Wales Women are currently winless in this year's Six Nations.
There is also the case of Wales' four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - who are lagging behind their competitors both in the United Rugby Championship and European competitions.
Reddin will take the next couple of months to review Welsh rugby before formulating a plan but insists he is not afraid of making tough decisions in the long-run.
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"I'll be given the resources and the opportunities to make the big calls as they need to be," he told WalesOnline. "I am someone who embraces change and I'm not afraid of it.
"I'm not afraid of making the big calls even if they are going to be unpopular at times. I don't know if that's required yet but I'm not afraid to talk truth when it's required.
"I think that's part of my strength coming in from the outside. I'm not as entangled within the system, the emotion of it and the history of it as maybe people who have been there a long time.
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"My job is to analyse what could be changed and really try to sell that change. Some of those can be small organisational or process things and others might be more structural changes.
"This is about sustained success and it isn't about tinkering around the edges and crossing our fingers. Hope is not a strategy. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
"It is about thinking about how do we create a system which can create a long-term competitive advantage for Wales. For me that's really the key here.
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"How do we focus on what Wales have as a real competitive advantage by virtue of its location, the talent it's got in its system along with the culture and passion people bring to it.
"You've got to start with what's going well and really understand that first. Inevitably there will be things we can improve on.
"Structurally if we are going to be successful in the medium and longer-term there may well be some big calls to make. I'm not going to be afraid to make them at the right time."