Steve Tandy needs ‘patience’ in Wales task, says Jonathan Davies

The WRU has been looking for a new men’s head coach since February, when Warren Gatland stepped down in the middle of a winless Six Nations campaign.

“It’s taken a bit of time but I think [WRU director of rugby] Dave Reddin got in and had to make his peace as well and decide that he [Tandy] was the right man,” said Davies, 62, who represented Wales in both union and league, as well as the Great Britain league side.

“It’s not going to be easy for anyone. You’ve got to remember now where we are, where the regions are, where we are in the world rankings. Hopefully he’s going to be there for a long spell and have a bit of consistency.”

Tandy takes over a Wales side that has been in the temporary stewardship of Cardiff’s Matt Sherratt, who led them to a victory against Japan in Kobe earlier this month that finally halted a record run of 18 straight Test defeats.

While Tandy will start with a fresh slate – and without the pressure to end a losing streak that lasted 21 months and saw Wales fall at one point to an all-time low of 14th in the world rankings – he takes over with the domestic game in turmoil.

The WRU is considering cutting up to two of its four professional regional teams.

The current professional rugby agreement (PRA) that underpins the Welsh professional game runs out in June 2027 and it was due to be superseded by a new five-year deal.

The deal has been agreed by WRU-owned Cardiff and privately-owned Dragons, but has still not been signed by either Ospreys or Scarlets, who say “key issues” have not been resolved.

Tandy will also have to navigate these choppy waters as he seeks to select a winning squad, and there would be some irony if Ospreys – the team he played for with distinction and then led to the 2012 Celtic League title as head coach – cease to exist due to WRU cuts.

“I’m not sure whether Gatland was really worried about the regions or the under-20s or the age groups [and] because of that I think the union have neglected it,” Davies added.

“Tandy has been there with the Ospreys, he knows the systems. He knows what underpins the regions and he’s got to look at that, because at the moment everyone says we’ve got great people coming through [but] we finished eighth in the Under-20s World Championship.

“Yes, you’ll have the odd good player but that isn’t enough. You need a real competitive structure below the regions so that those players are ready to step up to the regions and then maybe step up to the internationals.”

Davies said “getting everyone working together” will be a challenge as he attempts to complete the “big task” which is winning Test matches.

“The regions, the development areas and looking at where we need to strengthen the development… Is it schools, is it academies?” he added.

“Do we need to change the academies? Have we got the right people in place?

“Ultimately we all work together to hopefully get a better Wales. We don’t even know if it’s going to be four or two regions yet, so I hope he’s involved in those decisions as well.”