Following a robust, rigorous and competitive interview and selection process, Lt Col Tim Osman (RA) has been announced as the Army Senior Men’s Head Coach until at least the end of the 2024/25 season.
Lt Col Osman was named as interim Head Coach in late 2022, and during the subsequent months awarded a dozen new caps in the capped win over the French Army and Inter Service Championship.
A former Army and UK Armed Forces capped player who also played for Newbury and Henley in the National Leagues, Lt Col Osman led the Royal Artillery to four Corps Championship titles in five years between 2016 and 2020.
The following season he was given the responsibility for the development of the next generation of red shirt representatives as the Director of Under-23 Rugby, overseeing the title-winning 2021/22 Inter Service Championship campaign.
Although 2023 saw the red shirts relinquish their senior Inter Service Championship crown, Chair of Representative Rugby, Col Andy Geary OBE, believes Lt Col Osman is the right person to take the Senior Men back to the top of Forces rugby.
“I am delighted to announce that Tim Osman has been selected to be the Army Senior Men’s Head Coach,” he said. “The selection process was delivered under the tutelage of Nigel Redman, the RFU Performance Director, and represents the most rigorous process of any ARU appointment to date.
“I wish Tim and the recently appointed Director of Rugby, Colonel Graham Taylor, the very best of luck for the coming season where their focus will not only be to regain the Inter-Service Championship, but to put in place the foundations to ensure we are competitive for many seasons to come.”
Details regarding the 2023/24 Army Senior Men trials and selection processes will be announced in due course.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks
Header and featured images – Alligin Photography © Cat Goryn and Nick Flexman
