The WRU unveiled their new performance director on Friday afternoon at the Principality Stadium
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and newly appointment Dave Reddin (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
The Welsh Rugby Union’s new director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin faced the media for the first time today alongside CEO Abi Tierney.
The pair held court at the Principality Stadium to discuss what happens now in Welsh rugby. Here’s everything they had to say.
Q: Why have you accepted this role?
DR: “This was a real standout opportunity. Global rugby has probably been grieving for Wales and where they have been recently.
“That opportunity to be involved in a system that is at a low point but has the motivation for change is something that inspired me.
“At the beginning of the process I was trying to assess whether it was the right opportunity or not. Talking to Abi and Richard (Collier-Keywood) and the vision they had it was compelling.
“I am excited about building a system that is authentically and uniquely Welsh and develops the passion this nation has.
“Putting Welshness at the centre of it is so important and a competitive advantage for this nation.
“When I look from the outside at Wales team and its history I don’t see underdogs. I see a passionate vibrant nation.
“Hopefully I am bringing some different experiences but also a healthy dose of ignorance, humility and curiosity with that. I regard that at the beginning as a strength because it permits me to look at things with fresh eyes.
“I don’t have the emotional connection or history to what has happened before. I can look at things with a free slate and look at things like others have not seen before.
“It does not mean I have all the answers and sitting here with a plan and all the knowledge. I want to go in and understand the system and people within it.”
Q: How much time will it take to get things right?
DR: “I don’t know if I am honest. We always tend to overestimate what we can achieve in the short-term but in the medium term we can surprise ourselves.
“It is about taking a sensible amount of time to understand what is here and then start to think about what changes will make the difference in the shortest amount of time.”
Q: How is the search for a new head coach going?
DR: “Clearly the most important decision is going to be the head coach and that is where my attention goes first.
“Abi and her team earlier this week brought me up to speed with the process. The long list of contenders that have been considered and my job is to get into the details of that and additional thoughts into that process.
“That needs to be rigorous so we are not just going on CVs that we are understanding the characteristics of the person and that aligns with the vision for Welsh rugby.
“That will take a bit more time but that’s right because we don’t want that to be a short-term appointment.
“There were 150 names on the list and he will definitely be one of them because it’ almost every coach in world rugby. There is a process ongoing and that will run a natural conclusion.”
Q: Did you have any reservations before accepting the job?
DR: “With any job, especially with an organisation or system that is at a low ebb you want to understand whether the things are fixable. You are not going in and find out you have your hands tied behind your back or resources or motivation are there to change that.
“I wanted to spend enough time to understand that and the reason I am here is that everybody was able to satisfy my questions in that area.” 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby
Q: Did Cardiff going into administration affect your thinking?
DR: “No. We had a volatile period and while the spotlight on that is in Wales at the moment, there have been other nations at different points.
“It is more a commentary on rugby and the global wrestle around sustainability and all those things.”
Q: Abi, there has been rumours that you are going to appoint somebody to work in between the DOR and head coach. True or false?
AT: “False, absolutely false.”
Q: Don’t you need someone who understands Welsh rugby to also come in because looking at your CV you’d say that is something which is lacking?
AT: “I was answering a specific question. Does that mean we are not going to have Welsh rugby expertise as part of Dave’s team?
“There’s already lots of Welsh rugby expertise as part of that team and when we looked to recruit the best people into any jobs Dave thinks we need absolutely and some of those might be Welsh.
“I just want to be really clear I was answering a specific question that the head coach will report into Dave for both our men’s and women’s.”
DR: “Just to add to that what we are probably talking about there is that nitty-gritty tactical detail. So, that’s not what I’m bringing to this role.
“In every sport I’ve ever worked in there is a moment where you go in whatever your background, your CV or success and there’s this metaphorical hand on the shoulder that says but we are different. I know it worked there but it won’t work here because we are different and you need to understand why.
“What you recognise is context, process and culture are always different. You have to be respectful of that but at its heart player development and player progression has a huge amount of commonality across sport.
“Those decisions about moving players are player development decisions. I want to be heavily involved in influencing those processes so that we are doing it for the right reasons, that they are robust and are based on strong understanding of potential as well as performance.
“I do bring that skillset and I’m really keen we do have that skillset. Your question is completely valid.
“Of course, if somebody is going to ask me whether the tighthead is binding in the right way I’m probably going to look to my left or my right so that a technical expert can help with that.
“But if we are talking about the principles about player development or whether we are robust and based on something other than someone’s gut feel absolutely I’m going to be involved with that.”
Q: Where are you with the new Professional Rugby Agreement now, Abi?
AT: “We had another constructive conversation with the regional clubs this morning. They’ve got some very valid questions about what us taking ownership of Cardiff means for the PRA and what it means to the other three clubs.
“I think we are getting there in terms of answering the questions they’ve got and we will continue to work on that. But we remain very positive that we will get there.”
Q: Is there a deadline they have to sign by?
AT: “No. We’ve been quite public that we do need to refinance in order to build a sustainable future and to be able to take on the club’s debt.
“We can’t refinance under the current PRA, so we need to move. That’s the thing that’s driving the deadline.
“I want to give the club’s certainty for next season in terms of the money they’ve got to spend on players. We are getting very close to that.
“So, we need to do it imminently but we are not giving arbitrary deadlines as part of that.”
Q: Will the new head coach be in place for the summer tour or will you have an interim in charge?
AT: “I’m very supportive of the head coach search being a vigorous process. If as part of that process we end up with a head coach who is available for the summer that’s good but we also have other options in place.
“We are just exploring those and making sure we have a plan.”
Q: Is Matt Sherratt an option to continue as an interim head coach this summer?
AT: “That’s one of the options, yes.”
Q: A lot of Welsh coaches like Stephen Jones, Robin McBryde and Aled Walters working outside of Wales. Is it part of your plan to bring some of these back to Wales?
DR: “I think it could be. I’m open minded to all of it.
“When you say bring people back that sounds a bit like we are trying to march them home whereas I think if the system is compelling and if what’s happening in Wales is exciting and connected and has potential people will want to be here.
“Welsh coaches from around the world and talent in every discipline will want to be here. I think that has to be the goal.” Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Q: Dave, predecessors in your job all left in abrupt circumstances – curious over that?
DR: “I’m not a big fan of looking back too far. The circumstances in those different eras, to me, look quite different to the vision of the Union now.
“I’ve been around sporting organisations long enough to know that what might look mysterious from the outside can be explained quite easily on the inside. It doesn’t concern me.
“You could level the same accusation at a number of organisations. We know these roles can be quite short tenured, but that’s not my ambition.
“We know it’s not straightforward. The journey to success in Welsh rugby won’t go in a straight line.
“I won’t get it all right. I will make mistakes, but I’ll make them with good intention. I’ll guarantee I’ll give them as much thought as I can.
“It’s not a popularity contest. It’s about changing a system to create one that is authentically Welsh and capitalises on the advantages Wales has as a small country, the proximity between regions and national team.
“It’s about turning that into a genuine advantage that other nations find difficult to overcome. Other nations have advantages, but the job here is to celebrate who you are. It’s high-level principles, but it’s about connecting people.
“If the Welsh system can connect, and you add the passion of the Welsh people behind it, it’s a pretty unstoppable force.”
Q:
DT: “I think Abi’s in charge. We’re back to this idea of command and control when we talk about being in charge.
“If that’s where we end up, it’s a bad place to be. That’s not to say there won’t be times when clear decisions need to be made.
“I think the scope of the role, to lead the national teams’ head coach, allows you to truly line things up in a way that hasn’t always been possible in other organisations I’ve worked in. I think the potential in the Welsh system means I can have an influence.
“But I don’t want to say I’m in charge because I think that’s the wrong language and intention to bring to it.”
Q: How are you going to measure success?
DR: “I know we’ll be judged by results on the field. That’s the public marker of success.
“Sustained success takes longer. The green shoots don’t always appear on the field immediately. What I would lean on is that experience has told me things can happen a little bit quicker than we expect at times, but I don’t think it’s realistic to expect our teams to go from where they are to suddenly winning on a consistent basis in the Six Nations.
“But there’s going to be an up-turn in performances and results. The marker in the short-term is improvement and that’s tangible improvement in performances and results. The men’s head coach is going to be a key part of that.
“Sean is only recently into his role with the women. I know patience is in short supply but I’m going to ask for a bit more as I understand the system and start to build it for the future.”