COTTESLOE RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB (INC)- our story
Early years
The team was originally formed in 1893 and known as the Cottesloe 'Pirates' who donned a black jersey with an intimidating insignia of skull and crossbones over the left breast.
The WA Rugby Union was formed in 1928 and games were then played on a competition basis with six teams participating. At this time, the Pirates changed their name to Cottesloe, retaining the colours of black and white.
In 1930, Cottesloe Oval was obtained as a home ground and the club colours changed to the present ‘two blue’. A second team was also fielded in 1932.
Cottesloe is the only original club still in existence and is older than the WARU (or RugbyWA as it’s now known). It is also the oldest club in this State, celebrating its 120th Anniversary in 2013.
At the outbreak of World War II the local clubs disbanded and Cottesloe combined with Perth for some years in a small competition. Over 90% of our players served with the armed forces at this time.
The club was reformed in 1948 by pre-war members and, when Rugby League was introduced in WA in 1948, Cottesloe Rugby Union Club members helped to start the Cottesloe Rugby League Club.
As Rugby Union became more popular on the local scene, Cottesloe helped to form new clubs such as Western Suburbs (1951) and Scarborough (later called Stirling) in 1958.
Post-war years
The mid-fifties were very successful years for Cottesloe who were minor Premiers in 1954 and Premiers in 1955 and 1956 with eight members being chosen for the 1956 State team.
The period 1959 to 1962 saw many changes to the local competition. The number of teams increased to 10, then decreased to eight. Different grades were also introduced. By 1962, the Cottesloe club was in dire straits. Numbers had dwindled, debts had soared, spirit was low, and the club seemed destined to die. The final straw came when the nucleus of the A Grade side defected "en masse". The task ahead was daunting, but the few members left had a common purpose — to rebuild the club.
After borrowing money from the Union, a set of jumpers was purchased and an SOS for players went out. Although finishing last for the first time in their history and under pressure from Nedlands to amalgamate (Nedlands was keen to come up to A-Grade), Cottesloe ended the season debt free and with two sets of jumpers!
The following years were spent rebuilding, with particular emphasis on fostering school rugby, which paid off for the club over the next decade. We made a big breakthrough with a Colts team in 1963 followed by the introduction of a C Grade in 1966.
Up to 1963 training was held on Tuesday and Thursday nights on the Esplanade at the bottom of William Street in the city. A small change-room was shared with Western Suburbs. In 1964, training was held at Cottesloe on Thursday nights and at the Esplanade on Tuesday nights. In 1965, lights were installed at Cottesloe Oval and training on both nights was held on the ground where matches were played.
1960's – 90’s
The year 1965 saw Cottesloe become Club Champions, A Grade Minor Premiers, and Colts' Premiers. The Colts were also Premiers in 1967. From 1971 to 1974 renovations to an old house in Broome Street, overlooking the rugby field, made way for conversion to the present clubhouse.
1975 saw the formation of a 3rd Grade team which saw Cottesloe fielding five teams each week, giving 80 members a game of rugby for the first time.
The period to 1980 saw many ups and downs for the different grades with the Colts performing very well and A-Grade continually finishing the season on the top half of the ladder with a Premiership win in 1979.
The "eighties" undoubtedly belonged to Cottesloe becoming A-Grade Premiers from 1982 to 1985 and again in 1988, with all other grades performing strongly.
The nineties saw another Premiership win in 1992 and Cottesloe fielding 5 mens seniors teams along with the formation of Cottesloe Womens team in 1996 who won their first premiership in 1999.
Recent history
Recent times have seen Cottesloe regularly fielding 4 Mens, a Women's team, making us one of the largest clubs in the WA competition.
The Premiership grade flag returned home in 2019 & 2020 with both 1st and 2nd grade taking out back to back titles. The lower grades have also shown varying degrees of success with the most recent premiership success being in 2013 for the 5th Grade All Stars alongside the Women's team.
Premiership Flags
1967 - 1st division Colts
1974 - 4th grade
1976 - 2nd division 1st
1977 - 3rd grade
1979 - 1st grade
1982 - 1st grade
1983 - 1st grade
1984 - 1st grade, 2nd grade, 4th grade and Club Championship
1985 - 1st grade
1986 - 2nd grade
1987 - 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade
1988 - 1st grade
1990 - 3rd grade
1992 - 1st grade, 2nd grade
1993 - 2nd grade
1994 - 2nd grade, 3rd grade
1995 - 4th grade
1998 - 4th grade, Women
2001 - 1st grade
2003 - 3rd grade
2005 - Women
2006 - Women
2008 - 3rd grade
2009 - 1st grade
2010 - Colts, U18, 4th grade, Club Championship,
2011 - 4th grade, Club Championship
2012 - 4th grade
2013 - 5th grade, Women, Club Championship
2014 - 5th grade
2015 - 4th grade
2017 - Women
2019 - 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Club Championship
2020 - 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Club Championship
2021 - 1st Grade, Women
2022 - Women
