Tom James has put his body on the line for Cheltenham Rugby Club over the past few weeks.

Nothing unusual about that, you might say, except that the director of rugby at the Western Counties North club retired from playing five years ago.

The 39-year-old has been forced to dig out his boots because of a shortage of players due to injuries and unavailabilities and a difficult situation became even tougher when he suffered a broken leg and serious ligament damage to his right knee in the 51-7 defeat against Old Bristolians earlier this month. He now faces reconstructive surgery this week.

James was playing in the centre when he sustained the injury. “I tried to tackle their winger near our try line,” he said. “He was a large chap and he still scored the try. They were so far ahead anyway and that just made it all the more annoying.”

Not that the injury – or the first team’s downturn in fortunes in the second half of the season – has dampened James’ enthusiasm for the club. Far from it.

He is in his second season as the main man and said: “I love the club. It’s a tough gig at times but it’s a great place and the club enjoy a great location.

“The club are moving in the right direction in terms of development and the minis and juniors are outstanding. It’s a great set-up.”

Asked if he’d like to continue as director of rugby, James didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“Absolutely,” he said, “if they still want me. I love being part of this club. It’s not just a mercenary job for me. We have a really strong coaching team for the ladies’ and the men’s teams with Dan Murphy and Gareth Taylor.

“I want to reward the club with a deserving position in the table and with the wins I think they are capable of. They are a far better team than the table shows – they are a top three club.

“We showed what we can do when we beat Avonmouth – desire and mentality won that game.”

When reflecting on the season, James said it had been a “tale of two halves”.

“The first half of the season we did well,” he said, “but in the second half we’ve suffered because of injuries and unavailabilities.

“We’ve not been able to put the same side out in successive weeks and that makes it tough.”

James said that injuries to the likes of Henry Kirchner, Ben Constantine, Martin Whittemore and Charlie Daniell had taken their toll as the club slid down the table.

“These guys are game-changers,” said James, who picked out Tom Lait, James Hillier, Matt Taylor and Rich Athey as players who have stepped forward when the going has got tough.

“They often don’t get recognised for the job they do but they are so consistent and they do the dogwork that allows other players to stand out.”

James, a lecturer in sports psychology and coaching in Bristol, had a nomadic career as a player enjoying spells at a number of clubs across the county and Bristol.

Born and bred in Huddersfield, he was on the books of rugby league side Huddersfield RLFC from the age of 16 to 19 before being released and heading south to study at the University of Gloucestershire.

“I’ve stayed here ever since,” said James, who has been with his partner Krista for 18 years. “Cheltenham is such a lovely town. I rarely go back to Huddersfield to see my friends, they always come here!”

James has still been coaching since his injury – “I’ve been hobbling about,” he said – but faces up to a year of rehab after his operation before he will be back to normal.

So what was Krista’s take on his injury. “She’s not happy,” he admitted. “She’s rarely seen me play but she said, ‘Right, that’s it, you are officially retired.”