2024 Committee

President - Wayne Berkrey
Vice Presidents - Chris Cameron, Jack Hogan
Junior Vice President - Paul Wallace
Secretary - Rod Chalmers
Treasurer - Rod Chalmers
Canteen - Robyn Armstrong
Licensee - Robyn Armstrong
Facility Manager - Robyn Armstrong
Players Rep - Dylan Benfield
Events Coordinators - Briana Fritsch & Georgie Heggaton
Website - Jack Hogan
Facility Maintenance - Mark Ward
General Committee - Roger Miller, Brad Morton, Greg Morton, Terese Baldwin, Brad Jones, Steve Hardie, Dave Tozer and Charlie Willis.

2024 Coaches

Mens - Matt Berkrey & Phil Gay

Our Rich History

Origins in 1953

The cootamundra Rugby Clubs has a history that dates back 1953 when it began as a social football club. It wasn’t until 1954 that the club took on a formal structure, with Mr. J Steel has it’s first president. In that year, the club bodly entered two teams into the Riverina Competition, marking the beginning of an illustrious journey.

Rising Stars

The early years saw the emergence of some of our first representative players, including R.Bush and R. Scharkie, who had the honour to touring New Zealand with the country team. Soon after D. Pinkstone and G. Seymore embarked on a tour of Fiji and Tonga, further establishing our club on the rugby map.

Triumph in 1956/57

In 1956, the Cootamundra Rugby Club made history by competing in the South West competition and securing their first premiership win, edging out Temora with a close score of 9 points to 8.

Temporary Hiatus and Resurgence

Between 1958 and 1962, the club faced a temporary setback due to low numbers and did not participate. However, the spirit of rugby in Cootamundra was rekindled in 1962, and social football made a return in 1962 and 1963.

1964 - New Leadership

In 1964, a pivotal moment arrived as Grahame Pinkstone was elected as president during a general meeting at the Albion Hotel. The club entered a team in the reserve grade competition within the Riverina zone.

The John Scoles Era

1965 marked the election of John Scoles as club president, a position he would hold for many years. That year, the club entered two teams in the Riverina competition, sporting black and white as its club colors. The club also acquired Deitsch's Bakery, which was transformed into our beloved clubhouse.

Expanding Horizons in 1966

1966 was a significant year as the club expanded its presence with three teams entering the Riverina Competition - firsts, seconds, and colts. This marked the first time a Cootamundra first-grade side reached the finals in the Riverina competition.

1967 - Community Commitment

In 1967, the club's commitment to the community extended beyond the rugby pitch. Club members became hay baling contractors, baling an impressive 10,000 bales of hay for sale, contributing to the purchase of the clubhouse. Although the first-grade team narrowly lost in extra time during that year's grand final, the club's spirit remained undeterred.

A Wallaby Match in Cootamundra

1968 brought a historic moment as Fisher Park hosted a Wallaby trophy match between Queensland and NSW Country. This marked the first time a major rugby game was staged in Cootamundra.

1970 - A Year of Triumph

The pinnacle of success arrived in 1970 when the first-grade premiership was captured for the first time. Through outstanding efforts by the reserve grade team, the Cootamundra Club was crowned Club Champions. The club's colors were also changed to Tricolours Red/Gold/Black.

2024 - A New Name

2024 saw the our ground get a well deserved name change. Bassingthwaighte Park is our new home. Named after the Bassingthwaighte family who have since its beginning been involved with the rugby club. Initially offering up the land which they owned for use as a sporting oval.

Join Us in Celebrating Our Proud History

As we celebrate these milestones in our rich history, we invite you to be a part of our legacy at the Cootamundra Rugby Club. Our commitment to the sport and the community continues to be our driving force, and we look forward to creating more unforgettable moments in the years to come.