Wales head coach Steve Tandy has reshaped his backroom team, with strength and conditioning coaches Robin Sowden-Taylor and John Ashby departing and pathway fitness coach Ned Partridge promoted to the senior set-up. Further appointments are expected as part of a wider restructure.
Departures and Promotion
Sowden-Taylor, a former Wales international who was part of Grand Slam-winning squads in 2005 and 2008 as a player, had spent three years with the national team after arriving from Cardiff. Ashby leaves after 17 years with the Welsh Rugby Union, including 14 with the senior side. Changes have also been made in the analysis department.
Partridge has earned his promotion following positive feedback on his work with Wales Under-20s. Tandy confirmed he would be given a bigger role but made clear that additional staff would be brought in to strengthen the department.
Ongoing Talks and Future Direction
Tandy confirmed there are ongoing talks over the future direction of the elite set-up with WRU performance director Dave Reddin, insisting that decisions surrounding personnel were not being taken lightly.
“Yes, Robin has left. Dave and I are in constant dialogue about the direction of the programme. It’s never one person making reactive decisions; we discuss everything thoroughly as a group. We don’t make changes on a whim, and the same careful process applies whenever we recruit new staff,” said Tandy.
“We’ll bring other people in alongside him. It’s a great opportunity for Ned. We’ve had fantastic feedback on his work with the Under-20s. While he provides great support, we will add further personnel around him,” added Tandy.
No Immediate Announcement
No immediate announcement is planned on that front, with “off-field administrative matters” still to be finalised.
“There’s nothing to announce just yet. Ned is in, and there are off-field administrative matters that need resolving first, but I’m sure there will be an announcement in due course. We’re very grateful for what Robin gave to our environment, and it’s important people are treated with the respect they deserve when they move on.”
He added: “It’s all about building towards where we want to go. We took our time assembling the wider support staff; in the first couple of campaigns, it was primarily myself, Danny Wilson, and Matt Sherratt full-time, with campaign-based support around us.
“We’re refining how we shape our training design and how we link up with the regions. Whether it’s analytical, S&C, or the coaching team, we want to accelerate the players’ growth on the pitch, which means we have to evolve our set-up off it as well.”
Tandy has shaped his coaching team over the last year since his and Reddin's arrivals. Danny Wilson and Matt Sherratt were appointed as permanent assistants before a series of specialist coaching additions followed. Peter Murchie is now defence coach, Dan Lydiate became contact coach, Paul James was appointed scrum coach and Alex Davies joined as kicking coach.
