A former Cobar “Camel” and state representative rugby player, now an established commentator and coach in the “rugby union minded” Asian countries, Justin Sampson, is keen to work with the Cobar & District Rugby Union Football Club.
Cobar Rugby Club president Peter Payne met with Sampson last week to formulate a “Plan” to resurrect the club and raise its profile.
Over many years, Justin has developed friendships and relationships within world rugby by way of commentating on, promoting and coaching rugby at the highest of levels.
Justin believes he can and will assist the club by a hands-on approach in its fight for survival and by sticking to the “Plan”.
Justin named Nick McArdle and Tim Horan on STAN sport, Peter Overton on Channel 9, Peter Fitzsimmon of the SMH and Edwina Bartholomew of Channel 7 as his promotional confidantes and threw in, “Phil Waugh owes me a favour”.
Then there are the many senior Australian Rugby Union (ARU) administrative types from whom he can seek wise counsel.
Justin attended Shore School and played his first ever First Grade game for the Camels at age 15.
Justin says he is a legitimate “Old Boy”, playing for Cobar on three or four school holidays and still calls Cobar home, his mother Sue Cox is a resident.
Justin agrees that the club should continue to focus on women’s rugby and the Bactrians for the remainder of 2025; Nyngan hosts a women’s Gala Day next month, Cobar will do like-wise next month and a third Gala Day, probably at Walgett, is to be scheduled on a still undecided September/October.
These games can “springboard” both the Camels and Bactrians into competition in 2026.
The club refers to the current Women’s Rugby Union World Cup and the success of the Australian Wallaroos to starkly evidence the elevation of the status of women’s tackle rugby worldwide.
In addition, the current success of the Wallabies in 2025 against the British and Irish Lions and South Africa showcases not only the reawakening but inherent popularity of the Rugby code.
Justin notes Cobar Rugby’s Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval and clubhouse is the most western rugby complex in NSW, is one of the oldest, is situated in the Outback, and rugby is played under the men’s and women’s banners of the Camels and the Bactrians respectively; that is a brand in itself.
Justin will source a quality player coach and several key players to ensure playing rugby in Cobar is more attractive and competitive but, interestingly, he has not ruled out making himself available for the coaching job, depending on his personal circumstances to-wards the end of the year.
After all, he coached a previously uncompetitive Young to a Premiership at his last gig in 2024.
