Three new coaches have been added to Wales’ coaching team ahead of next month’s autumn Tests
Dan Lydiate will coach Wales(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Wales have announced former internationals Dan Lydiate, Rhys Patchell and Duncan Jones will join Steve Tandy’s coaching group for the upcoming autumn campaign on an interim basis.
All three are currently involved in coaching roles at the regions, with Lydiate and Patchell working at the Dragons and Jones coaching with the Ospreys. The three will all work with Wales’ national team for the first time as Tandy takes charge of his first campaign in the head coach role.
Lydiate will work with Tandy on defence, with Jones looking after the scrum and Patchell working as a skills coach primarily focused on kicking.
“I’m delighted that Duncan, Dan and Rhys will be joining us for the Quilter Nations Series and I’d like to thank the Ospreys and Dragons for allowing them to take up this opportunity with Wales,” said Tandy.
“I’m excited to have the full coaching team confirmed for our four games this autumn and I know we’re all relishing the chance to get stuck into our campaign.”
Tandy already has hired former Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt – who has taken interim charge of Wales in the last two campaigns following Warren Gatland’s departure – to look after his attack, while ex-Harlequins boss Danny Wilson is in charge of the lineout and contact areas.
During his playing days, Lydiate won 72 caps for Wales – with the blindside flanker playing three Tests for the British and Irish Lions in 2013.
The mid Walian was also named player of the tournament in the 2012 Six Nations.
Having hung up his boots at the end of last season, the 37-year-old has moved into working as the Dragons’ breakdown coach – having started that role on a player-coach basis last year.
Former Cardiff and Scarlets fly-half Patchell announced his retirement back in September after spells in New Zealand and Japan, with the 32-year-old now working with the Dragons as a part-time kicking coach.
Patchell, who won 22 caps for Wales and played in the 2019 World Cup,
Of the three, former Wales loosehead Jones has been coaching the longest.
The ex-Ospreys prop started working as the club’s scrum coach in 2018, being promoted to first-team coach under Toby Booth in 2020 – with the 47-year-old, who won 57 caps for Wales between 2001 and 2009, still holding that role now.
“Bringing Duncan, Dan and Rhys in for the autumn to work alongside Steve, Danny and Matt gives us a good balance in the coaching team,” said WRU director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin.
“We said at the outset that we might have some interim appointments and this is the right option for us at this point.”
New Wales head coach Tandy names his squad on Tuesday, 21 October with the opening game against Argentina on Sunday, 9 November.
Wales also take on Japan, New Zealand and South Africa in Cardiff this November.
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