Tonmawr's Tandy destined to become Wales head coach

"It is the job he was destined to do."

That was the verdict from Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney after installing Steve Tandy as the men's head coach.

Tandy has returned to Wales after a seven-year absence following coaching stints in Australia and Scotland.

He has completed the transition from a no-nonsense flanker, who never quite managed to win a Wales cap, to leading his country off the field.

From his beloved Tonmawr to the top job in Welsh rugby. This is the Steve Tandy story.

Tandy hails from the small village of Tonmawr, which is about four miles east of Neath.

"What an achievement for a guy from Tonmawr, everyone in the area is so proud of Steve," Tonmawr club president Michael Thomas told Radio Cymru.

"It is a small village and the rugby club is very important to village life.

"It is a family club and the Tandy family has made a huge contribution to this club.

"His grandfather Jimmy played for the club, and for Neath.

"His dad, Peter, played and coached here. Steve himself played for this club and then his brother Kevin, who also coached.

"And now Steve's nephew, Kevin's son Elliott, is the club captain."

Tandy made the trip down the road to the Gnoll in the late 1990s where he was greeted by Lyn Jones, who was Neath's head coach between 1994 and 2003 before leading Ospreys until 2008.

"Steve started at Neath in 1998, and you could see he loved rugby," said Jones.

"He wanted to know everything. He's a serious person and enjoys the minutiae of the sport.

"He came to every single training session, standing next to Brett Sinkinson [former Neath and Wales flanker] waiting for his chance.

"One day that chance finally came."

Tandy made 74 appearances for Neath before becoming a member of the Ospreys squad when the region was formed in 2003, where he played 102 games.

A month after playing his final professional game in March 2010, the back-rower was appointed head coach of Bridgend, having started his coaching career with Ospreys' Under-16s and spending time helping guide Tonmawr.

He secured promotion to the Welsh Premiership in his first season before he was thrust into the professional spotlight in February 2012.

Aged just 32, Tandy was appointed as head coach by Andrew Hore to replace Sean Holley, with director of rugby Scott Johnson also leaving Ospreys on the same day.

It was a baptism of fire with Tandy having to lead people he had played with and manage high-profile figures.

Tandy took things in his stride by guiding his star-studded side to the Pro12 title with Ospreys defeating reigning European champions Leinster in the Dublin final.

Former Wales second row Ian Gough straddled Tandy's two rugby careers.

"I played with and against Steve and was coached by him when he started his coaching career and also coached with him," Gough told BBC Radio Wales.

"He is a proud guy and he might even manage a smile after this news, although he is not known to smile too often.

"He is a good, honest bloke. He says it as it is, he is not somebody who will say something to your face and then something else behind your back. He will always front up. I am just so proud of him."

Ospreys reached the league semi-finals on two more occasions during Tandy's tenure but never cracked Europe.

Tandy left in January 2018 with managing director Andrew Millward "saying the decision that has been taken lightly" but "results had not been good enough and change was necessary".

Tandy was left wondering what to do next and made his way to Australia where he linked up as defence coach with Super Rugby side Waratahs.

He was reunited with former Ospreys boss Hore who was by then chief executive of the Sydney-based side.

WRU director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin says Tandy's readiness to try different environments proved a factor in his appointment.

"His coaching journey shows someone that has been unafraid to push himself into some uncomfortable experiences and challenge the way he was operating as a coach and develop as a result," said Reddin.

"Particularly moving from the Ospreys to the Waratahs was a journey that caused him to re-imagine how he coached and how he thought about it.

"He's continued to do that throughout his career and that's an amazing quality for, our younger players particularly, to be able to see in the coach and there's still growth in everybody."

Tandy was snapped up by Scotland following the 2019 World Cup and has been there since, with a stint also with Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions side in South Africa in 2021.

Wales flanker Jac Morgan says the Scottish players in the British and Irish Lions squad were gutted to see Tandy leave their set-up and those sentiments were echoed by head coach Gregor Townsend.

"We're sorry to see Steve go because he's had a positive influence on Scottish rugby," said Townsend.

"Firstly, with the players 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 been someone I've leaned on for advice.

"It'll be sad not having him with us anymore but I understand it's a massive honour for him to become head coach of his home country."

Scotland's loss is Wales gain, although the Tandy family might need to be reminded of their allegiances once more.

"For the last six years if you walk around Neath, I've seen Steve's dad, Peter wearing a Scotland Rugby Union jacket," said Lyn Jones.

"So I'm looking forward to seeing him wearing a new red coat now!"

Tandy has not been a head coach at international level but his old Neath and Ospreys mentor Jones does not believe the new Wales boss will be hampered by that.

"Steve has the experience," said Jones.

"He knows what needs to be done, and would have learnt those lessons from being head coach at Bridgend and Ospreys.

"He will have experience as well from being part of the Lions' coaching set up to South Africa in 2021."

Gough praised Tandy's bravery in taking on the job.

"It is a gutsy decision by him and his family," said Gough.

"He has come into the hot-seat at arguably the toughest position in world rugby at the moment.

"He knows the task at hand and it is a huge challenge. He is a Tonmawr boy and his family live in the area, so he will live it 24/7."