The Cooma Rugby Union Club will start its 2026 senior campaign this week with the men’s and women’s sides returning to training.

Pre-season training starts on Wednesday, 19 November for the premiership winning Red Devils and grand finalists, the Devils Angels. When the club started training this time last year, ahead of season 2025, there was a focus and determination not seen for some years.

Players were fitter, faster and with strong numbers, the club eyed finals rugby. Even the most optimistic of Red Devils supporters wouldn’t have thought a premiership would eventuate in 2025, but through hard work from players and coaches, the club lifted its first premiership trophy since 2002.

For the women’s side, its first competitive season was outstanding. The side reached the grand final and came within a try of a premiership.

As the club returns to Rotary Oval this week, it has secured its senior coaching staff for 2026. Not surprisingly, men’s head coach is James Quodling.

Quodling who was part of the club’s premiership success in the early 2000s, guided the side to last year’s title. He will again be joined by experienced coach and mentor, Geoff Stokes as his assistant coach.

Coming on board in an official capacity as assistant coach is club stalwart Nathan Boate. Boate has been a reliable member of the coaching brains trust and a club volunteer for many seasons.

Charlie McPhie will coach the Devils Angels side, looking to continue the success from last season. McPhie said he is proud to again coach the club’s women’s side and is encouraging more women to give rugby a go.

The club is also calling on under 18s players to come along to training.

The club welcomes all current and new players.

Training before Christmas is on Wednesdays from 6pm at Rotary Oval.