Close-up of a soccer field with a corner flag marker in the foreground, dew-covered grass, and stadium seating in the background at sunrise.

Elevate Your Rugby Performance

Logo of the Ruma Arrow's RUGBY UNION MASTERY ACADEMY, featuring a green arrowhead and chevron symbols surrounded by a green circular border with the organization name.
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About RUMA

The Rugby Union Mastery Academy [RUMA] is set up to provide additional high level development opportunities for male and female Rugby players of all ages within the ACT and wider regions.

Mastery v Performance

Mastery is the key word in our name. This word refers to the creation of a mastery environment to facilitate meaningful learning. A mastery environment encourages individuals to compete against themselves eliciting self reflection and self recognition of improvement. Performance environments shifts focus to competing against teammates and others to motivate improvement and ‘become the best’. We focus on mastery as this approach, allows opportunities for all athletes to develop together to become the best players they can be, guided by coaches and players alike.

Coaching Strategies

At RUMA we use coaching strategies proven to be most effective for development in academic literature. Training sessions are designed using WHOLE:PART:WHOLE method which utilises:

Rugby Union constraints based games and scenarios (WHOLE): Short targeted closed skill drills and small sided games (PART): Rugby Union constraints based games and scenarios (WHOLE).

Other coaching strategies used by RUMA include:

  • Peer feedback & teaching.

  • Self determination theory (to build intrinsic motivation).

  • Discovery teaching practices.

  • Targeted and strategic questioning.

  • Feed-up, feedback & feed-forward.

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Become a member

Professional Coaching Services

One-on-One Coaching Session

Focused 45-minute session tailored to your specific needs ($80/session).

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Academy Sessions

1 hour academy sessions planned and delivered by high level coaches ($35/session)

Boys and Girls Junior academy (U13-U18):

  • Monday & Wednesday afternoons 5.00pm-6.00pm

  • U13-U15 train together

  • U16-U18 train together

Men and Women Senior Academy

  • Monday & Wednesday afternoons 6.00pm - 7.00pm

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Become a RUMA Member

Become a RUMA member for $50/week and receive:

  • Unlimited academy sessions

  • 50% off 1 on 1 sessions

  • Individual development plan after 4 weeks

  • Access to free or discounted events such as:

    • Holiday Clinics (juniors only)

    • Seminars & Expert Speaker Events

Become a Member

Book a Small Group Training Session.

Focused 50-minute session tailored for up to 10 athletes on Saturday’s only ($60/athlete).

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A young male rugby player in a dark green uniform catches a rugby ball on a grassy field during sunset.
A young male rugby player in a dark green uniform catches a rugby ball on a grassy field during sunset.

Reserve a Coaching Session

Secure dedicated time with RUMA to develop the skills you need to achieve your Rugby Union goals. We have 3 session types to optimise Rugby development.

A rugby practice session with players passing and preparing to catch the ball on a grassy field.
A rugby practice session with players passing and preparing to catch the ball on a grassy field.
Membership
A rugby player running on the field holding a yellow and white rugby ball, wearing a white jersey with logos, shorts, and athletic shoes, with sunlight and blurred background.
A rugby player running on the field holding a yellow and white rugby ball, wearing a white jersey with logos, shorts, and athletic shoes, with sunlight and blurred background.

Head Coach: Dougal Perrers

I am a trained educator with a Bachelor of Health Sport and Physical Education from the University of Queensland. I have played Rugby at the semi-professional level in Wellington, Brisbane and the ACT as well as having nearly 10 years experience coaching Rugby, coaching players as young as 4 through to seniors.

In the past I have worked for the University of Queensland Rugby Club as a Development Officer, Ipswich Grammar School as a director of coaching and contract resource coach, and at Scots College (Wellington) in a multifaceted coaching role. In 2027 I will be the head coach of the Queanbeyan Whites Colts.

My coaching involves high time on task with a focus of using game-based learning to elicit meaningful skill development outcomes. My goal for this academy is to bring together a group of like-minded Rugby players so we can grow and learn together. I aim to address barriers to continual Rugby Union skill development with this Academy and commit to doing my best to affect authentic and positive outcomes for all Rugby players I work with.

Membership

Academy Curriculum.

At RUMA we have a curriculum designed to maximise skill development outcomes of all players. This has been designed through years of experience in coaching and education.

We focus on 3 pillars: Core skills; Game management; Intangibles. As a member of RUMA, what is listed below is where you will go, we know how to get you there.

Core Skills

Execute skills

Secure possession

Create space

Win collisions

Break the line

Score Tries

Game Management

Set piece fundamentals

Patterns of play

Support play

Formations

Scenario based decision making

Tactical awareness and decision making

Intangibles

Confidence

Connection

Resilience

Rugby IQ

Character

Community