A MONTH out from the start of the season, Cooma Red Devils head coach, James Quodling, is confident a larger playing squad will help the men’s side reach its first finals series in 10 years.

The South Coast/Monaro rugby union season starts on Saturday, 5 April with the Red Devils hosting an exciting first round encounter against local rivals, the Jindabyne Bushpigs.

Quodling believes the Red Devils will be much improved in 2025 following a busy pre-season.

With more players added to the squad, including a Welsh talent, three New Zealanders and nine Papua New Guinean players (currently working in Cooma), Quodling said his chargers are excited for the new season.

“Our preparation has been pretty good. We have had good numbers for pre-season training,” he said.

“The off-season has been solid, one of our best for a long time. The side is putting the work in.”

The Red Devils headed to Thredbo recently for a training camp. Players were put through a series of fitness tests and team building scenarios.

“Our camp in Thredbo went really well. The players all put the hard yards in,” Quodling said.

Red Devils captain, Damien Roach, has praised his players’ work ethic during pre-season training. Roach said a fitter and larger playing squad has the side ready for its best season in a number of years.

“Building our depth has been important. There will be pressure on players for spots and we will be able to better cover any injuries,” Roach said.

Last season, the Red Devils lost four games by eight points or less. Roach said fewer penalties and a more attacking mindset will be key to the Red Devil’s finals hopes.

“Probably our main area of improvement is our discipline,” Roach said.

“We will also look to shift the ball wider this year, and use the speed of our backs.”

Roach said there is plenty of talent in this year’s squad. He made mention of returning prop, Nic McLean, and backrower, Jake Quodling. Both had outstanding seasons for the Red Devils in 2024.

The Red Devils head to the Boorowa rugby sevens tournament on Saturday, 29 March before starting the season the following Saturday at 2.30pm at Rotary Oval.

In an exciting move for the club, there will be a women’s rugby side in Cooma for the first time.

About a dozen players have been training hard ahead of the women’s season with Cooma poised to enter a side in the 10s competition.