Otley have today announced that James Tiffany will be “coming home” to be their new director of rugby.

The 32-year-old is being introduced to the players tonight as he returns to the club where he had a distinguished career as a back-row forward.

Tiffany, who spent two years coaching at National League level with Otley’s old rivals Wharfedale, is looking forward to his return to Cross Green.

He said: “I had many happy years at Otley as a player and since I stopped playing I have followed their results. I still have many friends at the club and it feels like going home for me.”

The appointment of Tiffany, who works as director of rugby at Sedbergh School in Cumbria, was revealed by interim director of rugby Ryan Duckett – the man he will replace.

“We are delighted to have James joining us. He knows the club well and is a very experienced coach who has worked with many of our players when he was working at the Prince Henry’s rugby academy.

“We feel he can build on the progress we have made this year and I am sure he will prove to be a very good choice.”

Otley were confirmed in fifth place in SSE National League Two North on Saturday after their win over Dudley Kingswinford.

Tiffany is expected to watch his team for the first time since his appointment when they play their final league game at Sheffield Tigers, which has been rearranged for next Wednesday.

He said: “I watched them after I had applied for the job and was delighted with the fast and exciting brand of rugby they played.

“It will now be my job to empower the players to play attacking rugby. Obviously, there will be a need to be pragmatic at times, and that is where a little bit of experience is important.

“I am taking charge of a young side with a lot of potential and Tom Rock and Ryan Duckett deserve great credit for the way they have worked with the coaches Mark Luffman and Neil Hargreaves to turn things around.

“The club just avoided relegation in the final minute of last season so to reach fifth place this year is a great achievement.”

Tiffany, who spent a short period coaching in New Zealand after leaving Wharfedale in 2010, is planning to meet with his old team-mate Luffman and Hargreaves to discuss his plans for the clubs.

“I want both of them to continue to play big roles. I saw at Wharfedale and again in Christchurch, the importance of a strong club structure.

“We want players to work their way right the way through the club from under-sevens to the first team.

“It is important for a club like Otley to produce its own players.

“There have always been good juniors coming through who have won representative honours at county, North of England and international level.

“I hope we have a few more players like Ben Steele. He made his 200th first-team game on Saturday and came right the way through the ranks.

“I had eight or nine seasons at the club as a first-team player and the spirit within the club was always good.

“It is important for me to establish an ethos at the club which makes people want to be a part of what we are creating.”

One of Tiffany’s first jobs will be to try and retain the players he wants in his squad next season.

He will be particularly keen to keep players like record try-scorer James Twomey and Daniel Temm at Cross Green.

Temm was named both supporters and players' player of the year at the club’s annual dinner last Saturday.

Ben Fairclough won the most improved player and teenage hooker Luke Cole was young player of the year.