Wales rugby coach Tandy confronts domestic turmoil ahead of Autumn Nations Series

New Wales rugby coach Steve Tandy accepts he cannot avoid the "elephant in the room", with the domestic game in chaos and the threat of a players' strike still a possibility.

Tandy takes charge of the national side for the first time next month amid huge turmoil for Welsh rugby.

The Welsh Rugby Union has announced plans to halve the number of professional men’s sides in Wales from four to two, with a decision imminent on the future structure of the game following a six-week consultation period.

But the Welsh Rugby Players Association have warned the WRU proposals would "drive talent to leave Wales" and national team captain Jac Morgan has indicated he would leave to play club rugby outside Wales if his Ospreys team were one of the sides axed.

Meanwhile, the Newport-based Dragons have described the plans as "unacceptable" and on Wednesday former WRU chief executive David Moffett resigned from a United States-based company which promised new investment in Llanelli's Scarlets two months ago, although no reason has been given for the decision.

"I think you’ve got to be really empathetic to that situation," said Tandy, who is preparing for Autumn Nations Series matches against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.

"We've all got families, partners and children, but we can't avoid it either. It's something I’m encouraging from the senior players.

"We’ve got to talk about it. You can’t avoid the elephant in the room.

"With uncertainty, that’s the last thing you want to do. If they feel it’s awkward, I’d rather know."

Wales players threatened strike action in February 2023 –- just days before a Six Nations game against England in Cardiff –- following a delay over a new financial agreement between the WRU and the four regions.

No strike went ahead them but Tandy, asked if he feared a players' strike now, replied: "It's something you have to talk about. But just having that dialogue, you never want that to happen.

"Ultimately the way you avoid things like that is having constant dialogue and knowing boys have channels to voice their opinions."