Wales appoint ‘excellent coach’ as Steve Tandy’s backroom team takes shape

Wales have continued to strengthen their coaching ticket under newly appointed boss Steve Tandy with Matt Sherratt leaving Cardiff with immediate effect to join the team.

Sherratt is the second assistant added to Tandy’s backroom ahead of the Wales men’s squad’s end-of-year internationals which will be played at Principality Stadium.

The Cardiff head coach twice led Wales in an interim capacity earlier in the year – firstly overseeing the 2025 Six Nations matches against Ireland, Scotland and England, before returning to lead the national squad for the two Tests against Japan this summer.

Permanent deal

Sherratt will now join the Wales set-up on a permanent, full-time basis, taking on the role of attack coach with immediate effect.

Having initially joined Cardiff from Bristol in 2016 as backs and attach coach, Sherratt helped the club to European Challenge Cup victory in 2018 alongside fellow Wales assistant coach Danny Wilson.

He also held coaching roles at Ospreys and Worcester before returning to Cardiff in 2021 and becoming head coach of the club in 2023.

Sherratt was previously an assistant coach with Wales for the four year-end matches in 2016 and the two mid-year Tests against Samoa and Tonga in 2017.

Tandy said: “It’s great to welcome Matt to the coaching team. He obviously has experience from leading the squad on an interim basis for five games earlier this year and did a great job to get that result in Japan on a short turnaround after a long season.

“Matt is an excellent coach. His philosophy and approach is a great fit our playing group and I’m excited for us to start working together.”

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Speaking about his appointment, Sherratt added: “This was obviously a difficult decision to make as Cardiff is genuinely a club that means a huge amount to me and my family, and it’s also one that’s heading in the right direction.

“However, opportunities in the international game do not come around often and the chance to test myself at the highest level, while returning to a more hands on role, is something I could not turn down.

“I’m excited to team up with Steve and Danny for Wales and am looking forward to getting started on preparations for the autumn.”

Cardiff’s remaining coach staff, Corniel van Zyl (forwards), Gethin Jenkins (defence) Jonny Goodridge (skills) and Scott Andrews (scrum), will continue to lead the region, as they have previously in Sherratt’s absence.

WRU director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin said: “Matt is another great addition to the Wales coaching team. Between Steve, Matt and Danny we have the right balance of complementary sets of skills and I’m looking forward to seeing them working together to develop this exciting young group of players we have.”

Wales 2025 Autumn Nations Series fixtures

Sunday, November 9: Wales v Argentina (15:10 BST)
Saturday, November 15: Wales v Japan (17.40 BST)
Saturday, November 22: Wales v New Zealand (15:10 BST)
Saturday, November 29: Wales v South Africa (15:10 BST)

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