BREAKING: Wales confirm new Director of Rugby
Yesterday at 09:47 AM
After weeks of speculation, the Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed the appointment of Dave Reddin as its new director of professional rugby. A role that hasn't been filled since Nigel Walker departed as executive director of rugby back in December of last year.
With the national side on a run of 17 consecutive Test match defeats, Reddin faces an almighty task of rebuilding a national team that no longer sits in the top 10 in the World Rugby rankings. His role will also oversee Wales Women, who have so far lost all four of their Six Nations matches, as they look to avoid a consecutive wooden spoon.
Crucially, Reddin will be in charge of identifying the new head coach for the men's national side. With many in contention, it is believed that Scotland's defence coach, Steve Tandy, is favoured for the role.
Another responsibility he has is getting all four of Wales' regions competitive again. That will be no easy task as the Ospreys, Scarlets, and Dragons have yet to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement with the WRU.
Consistency in results has been lacking across the entirety of Welsh Rugby, with both national and club sides failing to push for any major trophies. Reddin has been there and got the t-shirt when it comes to radical change within a national side. Look no further than his six-year stint with the Football Association.
Over that period, he worked under the strategy of "What It Takes to Win," which brought a consistent period of success for England's Football. It included World Cup wins at the U20 and U17 levels, as well as World Cup semi-finals for their men's and women's senior sides.
That semi-final run in the 2018 Men's World Cup in Russia was the best in 26 years, as he worked closely with the then-England manager Gareth Southgate.
From 1998 to 2003, he was a part of Clive Woodward's England set up, where he was in charge of changing the landscape and culture in preparation of the players. Perhaps this was the reasoning behind their unbeaten streak, which lasted four years, and the glory of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003.
He did so with the oldest team in the entire tournament when the Rugby World Cup took place in Australia.
Reddin has said in the past that he is happiest when working behind the scenes, but with this monumental announcement, that happiness may be short-lived if nothing changes quickly in Welsh Rugby.
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