As uncertainty continues to engulf Welsh rugby following the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to open takeover talks with the owners of the Ospreys over Cardiff Rugby, Tandy is adopting the brace position.
The Wales head coach named his 38-man Six Nations squad against a backdrop of mounting unrest, with 14 players drawn from Cardiff and the Ospreys – the two regions at the centre of the WRU’s controversial restructuring plans.
With the governing body committed to cutting the number of professional regions from four to three, any successful takeover of Cardiff by Singapore-based Y11 Sports & Media would almost certainly spell the end of the Ospreys as a standalone entity.
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That prospect - of Wales’ second city being without a professional rugby team - has galvanised opposition and there could yet be months more of legal battles ahead.
Tandy acknowledged the emotional toll the situation is likely to take on players who feel their clubs, identities and futures are under threat, insisting the current climate mirrors the uncertainty that surrounded the squad in the autumn.
“It’s very similar to the autumn, there’s speculation and there’s doubt around a lot of things,” said Tandy.
"There is a lot of history with every club. I am proud to have played and coached the Ospreys, but I know there is pride around Dragons, Cardiff and Scarlets.
“If you were part of any club (under threat) it would sting and hurt. If I put myself in anyone's shoes, whoever you represent, it's going to hurt and there will be frustration and anger - any time you lose something there will be those feelings.
"I can't comment specifically on one team when I genuinely don't know what is happening, because I have been focusing 100 per cent on squad selection.”
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While Tandy dismissed renewed talk of a potential players’ strike as “more speculation”, he conceded that the constant negativity swirling around the domestic game is far from ideal as Wales attempt to halt a record run of 11 successive Six Nations defeats.
The situation has spilled well beyond the rugby community.
Politicians, council leaders and players have all publicly criticised the WRU and Y11, with Swansea West MP Torsten Bell and Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart considering possible legal action should Wales’ second-largest city be left without a professional team.
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The WRU hierarchy is due to appear before a Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster on Wednesday, where they are expected to face intense scrutiny over their recent decisions and long-term vision.
Player frustration has also been laid bare. Ospreys hooker and Wales international Sam Parry accused both the WRU and Y11 of failing to communicate with those most affected.
“We ourselves had no information regarding the on-going situation. We struggle to believe the most successful Welsh team to exist with the biggest history is on the brink of non-existence,” wrote Parry on X on behalf of his team-mates.
“We will continue to play for the fans and the people who have stood by the Ospreys over the years.”
Against that backdrop, Tandy has attempted to focus attention back on rugby matters.
His squad includes uncapped Leicester Tigers wing Gabe Hamer-Webb, who has committed to Wales despite having represented England at Under-20 level.
The coach has also welcomed back experienced tight-head prop Tomos Francis after a self-imposed international absence.
Francis, now 33, left the Ospreys for French second-tier side Provence following the 2023 World Cup and asked not to be considered for Wales selection.
With 76 caps to his name, he returns to the fold ahead of a summer move to Sale Sharks.
Wales’ task on the field is daunting. They open their campaign away to England at Twickenham, before hosting France six days later.
England thrashed Wales 68-14 in Cardiff last year, while France arrive as joint favourites for the title.
Wales have not won a home Six Nations match since beating Scotland in 2022, and bookmakers DragonBet have installed them as 100-1 outsiders to lift the championship and 350-1 shots to complete a Grand Slam.
Tandy accepts those odds reflect recent history.
“The bookies don't often get it too far wrong. Just look at the history and look at what the other teams have done over the past few tournaments,” he said.
“Look at where they are in and around their development, their experience around the teams. The focus for us is on our team getting better.
“I can't control the odds, I can't control England, I can't control lots of off-field stuff. The only thing I'm employed to do is make the best environment and produce the best team that we can possibly be in Wales.
“I'm excited about our group - they've got an amazing mindset, and they want to be better. We want to create the belief so that when we go out in the field, we can really be super competitive in how we want to go about the game.”
For now, Tandy knows his players must carry not only the burden of results, but the emotional weight of a sport still wrestling with its future.
