Tandy set for 100th cap

Steve Tandy will become the 11th Osprey to reach a century of appearances for the region when he leads the team out to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday evening.

One of the ‘originals’ who formed part of the first Ospreys squad for the inaugural 2003/04 season, 30-year old Tandy had featured for the region in each of the back row positions, and has scored nine tries in his 99 appearances prior to the Dragons clash. He has been named as captain for Friday night’s game, the first time that he has captained the Ospreys in a competitive fixture. This season has seen him spreading his wings into coaching, with him taking a role with the Ospreys Under-16 team.

Tandy said:

“It’s a real honour for me to reach 100 appearances. I’m proud to have been here from the start and seen the Ospreys grow into the organisation that we are now, we’ve come a long way in that time. I’m pleased that I’ve followed on from players like Duncan, Adam and Paul James to name just three, who are Ospreys legends, it means a lot to me.

“To lead the boys out on my 100th cap will be a great feeling. It’s the first time for me to be captain in a proper game, I think I did do it for a few minutes in a pre-season game down in Narbeth, but that doesn’t really count so I can’t wait for kick off to come. I’m a local boy and it’s my home region, it’s the area where I grew up so it’s a real achievement to play 100 times and captain the team.”


Ospreys Coach, Jonathan Humphreys, paid tribute to Tandy, calling him a ‘loyal servant’ to the region:

“Steve is a great professional and a true Osprey who never gives anything less than 100 per cent. He is a fantastic role model for the younger players coming through who can learn a lot from him. As one of the ‘originals’, it’s great to see such a loyal servant going on to complete a century of appearances for the region, an achievement he can be rightfully proud of.”