These are your latest rugby headlines on Thursday, August 7.
These are your latest rugby headlines on Thursday, August 7.
New Wales boss speaks for first time
New Wales head coach Steve Tandy will today address the media for the first time since taking the job, with a press conference set to be held at the Principality Stadium this afternoon. The 45-year-old, who left his position as Scotland’s defence coach to become Warren Gatland’s permanent successor in the Wales hotseat, will appear alongside WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin at the event.
Former Ospreys boss Tandy will start his new job – which is his first head coaching role at Test level – on September 1, and knows he is taking on a huge task as he returns to a Welsh rugby system in crisis. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
He will take charge of a team that has only just put an end to a dismal losing run that stretched to 18 successive games, and he must turn things around to get results in a crucial autumn international period.
With Wales currently ranked 12th in the world, they can’t afford to drop any lower, as doing so will see them slip into the third banding of seeds ahead of the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which will be made following the autumn campaign.
It will not be easy, however, as a formidable series of games will Tandy’s side take on South Africa and New Zealand, as well as Argentina and Japan, in Cardiff this autumn.
However, while there is a tough task at hand, Tandy has already received the backing of his WRU bosses, with Tierney saying he was the “standout candidate” for the role.
“This is a keystone appointment for us and an integral part of our five-year strategy as we look to achieve sustainable success for our senior men’s side,” she said as the Tonmawr-born coach’s appointment was confirmed last month.
“Steve fits the bill in terms of the affinity he will be able to create with a young group of players with huge potential, but also the galvanising effect we know he can have on the whole rugby ecosystem as a proud Welshman .
“Our task now is to ensure Steve has the support and resources he needs to succeed in this role.”
Meanwhile, Reddin, who appointed Tandy and will be the man the new coach reports directly to, said he believes the ex-Scotland assistant is a “vital part” of Welsh rugby’s future.
“Steve is an excellent coach with the motivation and curiosity to continue to learn and develop very much a part of his DNA; these are hugely important characteristics for everyone in our system,” he said.
“He brings a wealth of experience, a unique understanding of Wales and the young talent we have at our disposal and a huge amount of passion and desire to excel in the role.
“Steve is a vital part of the future strategy for success in Welsh rugby and I will ensure he has the space, time and support to realise the potential of the exciting group of players he will have at his disposal.”
Rees-Zammit obstacles emerge
Louis Rees-Zammit faced too much competition, among other obstacles, to succeed in American football, believes Osi Umenyiora.
The Welshman announced last week that he was returning to rugby after a valiant 18-month stint trying to forge a career in the NFL, firstly with the Kansas City Chiefs then with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cracking a professional sport from a virtual standing start was always going to be difficult for the former Gloucester player, with British former professional American football player Umenyiora saying that despite Rees-Zammit being a “fantastic athlete”, you need to be “unparalleled” to succeed in the sport.
“I think Rees-Zammit is a fantastic athlete, but in terms of pace and athleticism, there’s maybe 500 of those guys in Florida alone, so it’s usually a lot more difficult for players like that,” said Umenyiora to the BBC.
“You have to be unparalleled. You have to be superior athletically to be able to learn the game and then break through.”
Another player who tried his hand at the game, Christian Scotland-Williamson, who has since become a lawyer, also raised huge hurdles that anyone has to overcome to succeed in the sport.
Speaking to the BBC, he held up two law books – each more than an inch thick – and said: “Learning both of these was easier than learning an NFL playbook, which is absolutely absurd.
“Doing all that [legal training], I still wasn’t working as hard as I had to when I went to the NFL. It recalibrates what you think is hard.”
Now back in rugby, Rees-Zammit will examine his options, with the 24-year-old admitting last week there had been plenty of interest in his services.
“Obviously I can’t name teams, we’ve had a load of interest, which is unbelievable, I’m very grateful for that,” he told Sky Sports.
“We are still going through what the full plan is for me, obviously the season starts pretty soon, it’s about finding the right team for me, in terms of location, how quick I’ve got to get into camp, because the season is right around the corner, all these things are going to happen pretty sharpish.
“Me and my brother are going through negotiations and seeing teams interested is amazing, so we should find out in the next week or so.”
Barbarians announce New Zealand fixture
Barbarians have announced that they will play a New Zealand XV at the home of Brentford Football Club in November.
As part of the autumn internationals, the side will take on the All Blacks side at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, November 1.
The last two times that the Barbarians played in London saw victories for the invitational side, as they beat the World XV and Fiji at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
The All Blacks XV is a team designed to develop and nurture upcoming talent ahead of their step-up to Test rugby.
Speaking about the upcoming match, President of Barbarian FC, John Spencer, said: “The Barbarians and the All Blacks XV are two of the most iconic names in rugby, and it is great to see them come together for another huge occasion this autumn in London.
“Fixtures between the Barbarians and New Zealand sides stretch back more than 70 years and include the game’s ‘greatest try’ by Gareth Edwards in 1973. We know this November’s game will be another entertaining encounter.“It will be an honour for the players who are invited to join and represent our Club to take on and test themselves against one of the best sides in the world.“The chance to see the Barbarians in their famous black and white hoops taking on the All Blacks XV in the capital isn’t to be missed, and we know supporters will be as excited as we are for this game.”
