Two years too late imo Taff, he'd been too long at the helm to be effective anymore. Not his fault really, the players just got used to his voice. Its very difficult to motivate when the people your trying to motivate know what you're going to say, because they've heard it all before. Don't care where the next guy comes from as long as he a rugby man who can take us on and give us the edge we've lacked in recent years. I'd like him to bring a team of 'hard as nails' coaches with him to help instill some fear and urgency into the players, they just seem too comfortable to be competitive outside our own league.
I suspect that you are correct - the results of 2015/16 were blamed on the impact of RWC. The start of 2016/17 was very good but we blew up in Treviso last March. No appointment/replacement before the Summer. That said, there will be a raft of Coaching movements after RWC 2019.
Hopefully now they will bring someone in who will get the players playing to their potential. I do fear that they will go for another boring coach by numbers rather than somebody who wants to win games and have more than just one game plan. Do agree with Stump though, just to late should have been done before the start of this season, may have encouraged a few to stay.
I'm glad Tandy has left, He was just not the right coach for us and stayed on far too long imo.....This does not mean he is a rubbish coach because he is not and dont have anything to prove to anyone but some teams are just not right for him and the Ospreys was one of those teams unfortunately...
Ospreys Rugby are delighted to announce that Owen Watkin has become the third player to commit to the region this month. The 21-year old from Bridgend has signed a new two-year contract that ties him to the Ospreys until at least summer 2020. One the brightest prospects in Welsh rugby, Watkin has already played 24 times for his home region, scoring three tries, and won his first senior Wales caps in November. “I’m happy to commit to the Ospreys, I’m enjoying playing here, enjoying my time with the boys, and I’m looking forward to the future and what we can achieve as a team” Watkin said. “I’m just looking to play for the region as much as I can for as long as I can. It was a great experience for me in the autumn with Wales but it’s important I bring that back to the Ospreys and use it to learn and continue developing. “This is a great place for development, there are a lot of young players who have come through to play for the senior team, boys I played alongside at age-grade, and that shows the system here works. I’m really proud to be a part of it and really excited about the next couple of years.” Watkin came through the regional development pathway via Bryncethin RFC, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd, Bridgend College and the Ospreys age-grade set-up. A WRU U18 title winner in 2015 alongside the likes of Keelan Giles and Will Jones, he was capped by Wales U18 and U20 level, winning a Grand Slam the following year. He made his senior Ospreys debut in September 2015, catching the eye in an 18-20 Liberty Stadium defeat to Munster, with his Champions Cup debut coming four months later away to Exeter Chiefs, as he totalled 13 appearances in his first season. Having sat out the following campaign through injury Watkin has underlined his potential during this campaign, featuring regularly in midfield, including starts in all six of the region’s Champions Cup matches. His total of 13 defenders beaten in the Round 6 game against Clermont Auvergne equaled the all-time competition best, his total of 28 across the pool stages the second highest tally of the season. Called up by Warren Gatland ahead of the autumn internationals in November, Watkin was handed a first senior cap off the bench against Australia, starting against Georgia a week later. Earlier this month he was named in a Six Nations squad for the first time and reported for duty at the Vale on Monday. Dan Griffiths, Rugby General Manager at the Ospreys, welcomed the news saying: “Owen is someone we identified very early on as having the potential to become an Osprey and he has already shown that he can thrive at this level. He is level headed, eager to learn, and he combines skill and physicality, a great mix for someone in his position. “He’s already been able to gain considerable experience for someone so young but he’s not the kind of person to get ahead of himself, he knows that he has to continue working hard over the duration of this new contract to ensure he reaches his full potential. “We are excited about seeing him continue to develop in an Ospreys shirt over the next two years and no doubt out supporters share that excitement.” Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell have already signed new deals this month, following on from the confirmation of Aled Davies and Scott Williams being added to the squad for next season.
Dai - Clermont's reserve scrum half earns more than the highest paid Osprey...... Clermont's wage bill is circa triple that of the Ospreys. Every single team in the English Premiership has a wage bill higher than the Ospreys. Webb, Biggar & Arhip are all leaving for sums of money that the Ospreys couldn't match. The days of the Galacticos has gone.
Dai, in financial terms we cannot match the English and French super rich owned clubs. It's exactly the same as comparing the financial clout of Man Utd v Swansea.
Wrong.....A few individuals have always earned more but as a squad the average wage is second to none....
Sorry Dai - but whilst the Ospreys have the highest wage bill in Wales, they are dwarfed by the French & English teams, and also trail Leinster, Munster & Ulster. But Dai, you are entitled to your opinion
I wonder why our top players then are moving to top English, French clubs and possibly giving up their international careers. I am sure they would stay here if they could earn the money they will be earning when they move. Whilst they are on tidy money and particularly within Wales, our top earners are miles behind those in England France and Ireland.
