THERE is never a good time to get injured but to pick up a broken ankle on the opening day of the rugby season is, to say the least, far from ideal.

That was the situation that befell Ellingham & Ringwood player-coach Phil Osman, who had only intended to play “if needed” during the 2014-15 campaign.

However, the unavailability of Charlie Cockram meant the 45-year-old stepped in at fly-half for the London Three South West home clash with Sandown & Shanklin nine days ago.

Despite his advancing years, Osman was comfortable as proceedings developed. That is, until the second half.

“I played in a pre-season warm-up game and worked very hard during the summer on the off-chance that I would end up playing,” said Osman.

“The other prospective number 10 was away that day and I felt good and so I went for it. I thought I might as well play.

“Our number nine – who had an interesting game – threw a bobbling pass and I went to tidy it up and step back inside.

“I got my left leg out of a tackle and thought I had beaten him, but he half-tackled me and half-fell across my back leg, which got wrapped underneath me.

“I fell over backwards on top of the guy and the crack was blatant.

“Rather than being a conventional tackle, it kind of happened in slow motion, but I knew I wasn’t in a good position and I could feel it coming.

“It was like one of those moments when they show a replay at a game and no one in the crowd wants to look at it.”

Ellingham & Ringwood eventually triumphed 32-18 but it was something of a hollow victory given that Osman’s afternoon had come to such an abrupt and painful end.

Just five days later, the player-coach went under the knife at Salisbury District Hospital and had a metal plate inserted during the operation.

Now he faces a period of rehabilitation before his ankle is restored to full strength, prompting the veteran to consider whether he will be able to pull on his boots once more.

“I would never say that’s it for my playing days, although my wife might!” he said.

“If I do the rehab properly then my ankle should be stronger than it was in the first place. But maybe I’ll have to be sensible at this stage, we’ll see.

"The doctors said that the injury had nothing to do with my age and that it could have happened to someone who was 18.

“I’m amazed that in all the years I’ve played, something like this has never happened before.”

Osman, who describes himself as “a glorified carpenter”, has initially set his sights on returning to work rather than getting back on the rugby field.

“The doctors said I should make a full recovery in due course but I don’t think I’ll be able to do much over the next month,” he continued.

“At the moment the priority is getting back to work in one piece.”

Osman did not oversee training last week but he turned out to watch Ellingham & Ringwood’s fixture at New Milton & District on Saturday, with his wife’s permission of course.

Unfortunately for Osman’s team, the hosts ran out 32-13 winners.