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Tandy has started discussions with Dave Reddin over his backroom team(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
These your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, August 7.
Tandy reveals coaching team plans
New Wales head coach Steve Tandy says he has started discussions with the Welsh Rugby Union’s director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin over who will be appointed to his backroom team. The former Ospreys boss, who addressed the media for the first time in his new role on Thursday, has been tasked with turning around Wales’ fortunes at Test level, with the side finally putting an end to their 18-match losing run in Japan earlier this summer.
With a daunting autumn international campaign – which will see Wales face Argentina, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand – ahead of him, Tandy knows he will have to hit the ground running and while he has praised the support he has received from Reddin and WRU CEO Abi Tierney, will need a strong coaching team to work with.
Admitting he has a “blank canvas” to work with, the coach said he had spoken with Reddin over potential appointments, explaining that it is key for the immediate and long-term future of Welsh rugby that the right decisions are now made. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“Dave and I have started discussions,” he said. “The boys in Japan did a great job to get that result, that’s a credit to them because it was a short turnaround after a long season.
“There’s a blank canvas and we have started having conversations about making sure we get the right people in the right roles, not just for the autumn but the longer term for the growth of us as a nation.”
Tandy later added: “I want to be a better coach tomorrow and keep growing in this environment.
“Dave and Abi are great when talking about putting the support around me because there is no magic wand, I want to create a belief around this inexperienced young group about where we can go to in the future.”
Scarlets’ supporters’ trust issue statement
The Scarlets Supporters’ Trust, Crys16, has issued a response to its members after it emerged that it had raised an objection to the Ospreys being granted planning permission to redevelop St Helen’s.
On Tuesday, the Ospreys were granted permission for work to start at the famous old ground, which they are hoping to move into before the end of the year as they leave their current home at the Swansea.com Stadium.
However, Swansea Council’s planning committee also heard that there were four letters of objection to the plans, plus two late ones – one of which was from the Scarlets Supporters’ Trust.
That objection was followed by a cross-party group of politicians – made up of Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies, MS Cefin Campbell and Labour MP Nia Griffith – raising concerns over the potential impact the redevelopment could have on regional rugby in west Wales, with Davies saying it “would clearly pose a threat to the viability of Parc y Scarlets”.
Now, the trust has issued a statement, saying they made the “difficult decision” to object to the planning application to “defend one of our constitutional principles and protect the future of professional rugby in Llanelli”.
Addressing its members, the trust wrote: “We are writing to you following the recent news that we, Crys16, as a Supporters Trust were one of two letters who objected to the planning application made by the Ospreys relating to the redevelopment of St Helen’s.
“We hear and understand our members’ concerns and passionate debate this has created. This is why we wanted to set out the context of our objections amidst the ongoing and increasing uncertainty of the future of professional rugby in Wales. In any event, we will reflect on Member feedback seriously.
“Whilst we would not ordinarily get involved in this process, the Crys16 board felt the approval of this application has significant connotations beyond the Swansea City area. These concerns were echoed by a local member of the Senedd, Cefin Campbell MS, and MPs Ann Davies and Nia Griffith on BBC Wales [on Wednesday].
“Acting in the best interests of our members and with little time to consult our members, we undertook the difficult decision to take this action to defend one of our constitutional principles and protect the future of professional rugby in Llanelli.”
The statement continued: “As many of you will be aware from recent media reports, the WRU have expressed a preference to reduce the number of teams in Wales, potentially to having just one based in the west. The approval of a new, publicly funded facility in direct competition with Parc y Scarlets, has an existential impact on our future.
“We urge members and all Scarlets fans to continue to support the Scarlets, demonstrating to the Welsh public and the rugby world, why the 150 years of heritage of our club is so important not just to cultural, economic and social fabric of Llanelli and Carmarthenshire but the identity of the whole of west Wales.”
Star makes immediate retirement U-turn
Australia scrum-half Nic White has made an immediate U-turn on his decision to retire from international rugby, less than a week on from what he claimed would be his final match for the Wallabies.
The 35-year-old had declared that the third and final British & Irish Lions Test in Sydney would mark his final international appearance, with his team-mates paying tribute to him before the series closer.
However, on Thursday, White was included in Joe Schmidt’s 35-man squad for Australia’s upcoming tour of South Africa, which forms part of this year’s Rugby Championship.
In a statement, Rugby Australia confirmed that the 73-cap scrum-half would be playing a role in the competition, explaining: “White (is) putting his hand up to help the group again due to Gordon’s injury, just a week after announcing his plans to retire.”
Schmidt has also selected uncapped scrum-half Ryan Lonergan alongside White in the squad for next week’s clash against the Springboks and the second test in Cape Town on August 23.
However, fly-half Tom Lynagh has been ruled out of the tour, having failed a head injury assessement following a high challenge by Lions hooker Dan Sheehan at the weekend.
He has been replaced by one-cap man Tane Edmed, who joins Ben Donaldson and James O’Connor as one of Schmidt’s fly-half options.
Mo’unga returns to New Zealand
New Zealand Rugby have announced that Richie Mo’unga has signed an 18-month contract to return to his home country.
Mo’unga, who starred for the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup in France, has been playing his rugby in Japan with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo since last year.
However, he will now return home to play for Canterbury in 2026, before pulling on the Crusaders jersey in the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season, ahead of the World Cup that year.
Mo’unga previously said that he could see himself playing out in Japan until he retired, with many New Zealand rugby fans thinking he had played his last game for the All Blacks before the age of 30.
Earlier this year, rumours also swirled that the 56-cap international could be tempted to change his international eligibility to Tonga so he could play at the World Cup and continue playing for Toshiba – but he has now decided to return to New Zealand.
“The Crusaders have always been a huge part of my life – not just as a player, but as a person,” said Mo’unga as his return was confirmed.
“I can’t wait to return in 2027 and continue to build on the legacy of the franchise. I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with the fans and contributing to the environment both on and off the field.”
New Zealand selection policy does not permit players contracted to clubs outside New Zealand to represent the All Blacks, so Mo’unga had to return to Super Rugby in order to play for his country again.
He will return to New Zealand in July 2026, when his contract in Tokyo ends, while he will be eligible for the All Blacks in the autumn internationals next year.