Tiatia signs player-coach role at Ospreys
Filo Tiatia brings huge experience to the Ospreys
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Thursday, 08, Jan 2009 09:23
The Ospreys have announced that back-rower Filo Tiatia has agreed a new three-year contract to become a player-coach at the club.
Tiatia joined the Ospreys in 2006 and has made 63 appearances, scoring seven tries. His new role will see the 37-year-old work with the senior squad in the tackle/contact area as well as coaching the Ospreys players in the different age groups.
The former New Zealand international, who won two caps for his country, has coaching experience after spending the last two seasons helping players in the Ospreys academy.
"It's an exciting challenge for me over the next few seasons, combining playing with coaching," said Tiatia. "A move into coaching has been on my agenda for a little while; when I signed my last contract 10 months ago it was something I said that I wanted to experience.
"I'm grateful that, having seen what I can do, the guys here have the confidence in my coaching ability to offer me this opportunity.
"I've no intention of giving up playing just yet, I feel that I've still got a lot to offer on that front, so in the short term it will be a case of balancing the two components."
Tiatia has a great deal of experience of playing rugby around the world. He spent a decade playing in his homeland for both Wellington and the Hurricanes. The number eight also spent four seasons playing in Japan.