Steve Tandy’s coaching team is slowly taking shape ahead of the summer
Adam Jones during a Wales coaching session last year(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)
On Monday, Welsh players will officially start in camp ahead of a lengthy summer block.
With matches against the Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa to come, it’s set to be a busy couple of months for Steve Tandy and his side. Some players have already been in this week, as preparations begin in earnest for Tandy’s third campaign.
Tandy’s Wales is starting to slowly take shape.
After a tough autumn campaign against some of the world’s best sides, the Six Nations showed some steady growth – culminating in a first win in the tournament since 2023.
Now, with an extended 48-man squad set to make their way to the Vale of Glamorgan in dribs and drabs over the next few weeks, there’s a sense that Tandy can really start to take hold of this group.
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He’s helped by a coaching team that is starting to take shape.
Having had only attack coach Matt Sherratt and forwards coach Danny Wilson as permanent members of staff for the first two campaigns – making do with interim coaches on secondment from Welsh clubs – Tandy now has some more new faces to integrate.
The headline act is Peter Murchie, with the new defence coach having worked with Tandy in Scotland.
Having been in charge of Glasgow’s defence when they won the United Rugby Championship in 2024, Murchie comes with a decent pedigree.
Had he not moved to Japan for a new coaching role, he could easily have replaced Tandy as Scotland’s defence coach last year.
Those who have worked with him sing his praises, so the hope is that will be an appointment that works out well.
Dan Lydiate, having earned rave reviews from players during his two camps on secondment, has also been brought in – with the former Lions back-row responsible for contact skills and work alongside Murchie.
However, there are three more roles to be filled.
Back in April, the Welsh Rugby Union advertised three jobs that would complete Tandy’s coaching ticket.
Listings for a kicking coach, scrum coach and attacking skills coach were posted – with all three closing at the start of May.
Interviews, which involved a presentation component, were then set to follow this month.
The kicking and attacking skills jobs were set to interview towards the start of the month, with the scrum coach interviews happening later in the month.
Ironically then, more names have emerged for the latter job.
It’s understood that former Wales props Adam Jones, Duncan Jones and Paul James all recently had interviews with the WRU.
That comes as little surprise, given all three have worked with Wales on secondment over the course of the previous four campaigns.
Adam Jones, who is currently with Harlequins, worked with Wales during the 2025 Six Nations and summer tour of Japan. It’s no secret the former Lions prop would like to coach Wales moving forward.
As for his namesake, Duncan, he was brought in by Tandy for the 2025 autumn and 2026 Six Nations – although he left the latter early after picking up a freak injury in training.
He was replaced by James.
Candidates for the kicking job are relatively unknown, beyond an obvious name.
Wales legend Leigh Halfpenny – having announced his retirement from playing at the end of this season – is understood to have applied for the job.
However, whether he gets it remains to be seen. There are believed to be some doubts over his communication skills, with there a sense that it could be wise for the 37-year-old to gain experience elsewhere first.
Obvious alternatives have yet to emerge, though. Former Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell, who worked with Tandy in the last two campaigns, has taken up a job with Benetton.
Former Cardiff and Dragons kicking consultant Alan Kingsley was mentioned in dispatches as someone who might be interested in the role.
Having worked with Argentina’s kickers, he certainly has an impressive CV. However, it’s understood that he has not applied.
In terms of the final coaching role, a couple of names have emerged as possible contenders.
Goodridge has previously worked with Matt Sherratt at Cardiff and Worcester(Image: Getty Images)
Cardiff assistant Jonny Goodridge is believed to be in consideration, having previously worked under Wales attack coach Sherratt while he was in charge at the Arms Park.
The former Gloucester and Bristol full-back replaced Richie Rees in the Welsh capital, having previously been at Worcester Warriors – again, working with Sherratt.
While at the English club, he is said to have identified the talents of England duo Fin Smith and Seb Atkinson.
This season, his efforts with Cardiff’s attack – in particular his work on tap-and-go moves in the red-zone – have helped the club reach the URC play-offs.
Scarlets transition and academy coach Scott Sneddon, who has also worked as Wales U20s defence coach, is believed to have applied for a role too.
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