The Army Rugby Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Lt Col Tim Osman, Royal Artillery as the interim Senior Men’s XV Head Coach for the 2022-23 season.
Tim succeeds Capt Mal Roberts RLC who has stepped down after two years in post and joins a small cohort of individuals that have had the privilege to take on this unique role in Army sport.
Having first been capped at centre for the Army and UKAF in 1998, Tim has an outstanding pedigree in the game. Playing spells with Newbury and Henley in the National leagues, he first tasted success versus the Royal Navy in the Millennium match at Twickenham, and also toured with the Army to NZ and Australia in 2003. Tim represented UKAF (then the Combined Services) against the Barbarians on several occasions and also featured in representative fixtures against Holland, Fiji A and for Army 7s.
Having had coaching roles with the ARU Senior XV and Academy set-up previously, Tim then saw significant success at Corps level where he led the Gunners to four Championship titles in five years (2016-20) before assuming the role of DoR ARU Academy in 2020/21, overseeing the Army’s U23 Inter-Services victory last season.
Currently also coaching Tottonians RFC (L6) in Regional 2 SW, Tim commented; “It is a genuine honour to be offered this opportunity, and a significant challenge, to continue Mal Roberts’s outstanding legacy with Army Rugby. I am very much looking forward to immersing myself into the Senior squad this season and assisting in our preparations to retain the Inter-Services. Sport is a massively important part of our organisation, and I will take great pride in developing and supporting our soldiers’ talents and experiences in the coming months. “
Tim is currently Director of Rugby for the Army U23s team, pictured here with the 2021 winning Inter Service squad.
Image © Alligin Photography
