CNRU competition abandoned but Blue Boars president applauded

The 2020 rugby union season offered so much promise for Narrabri Rugby Club community.

Premiership-winning coach Hunter Harley returned to the top job and the club had put together a solid roster which showed many positive signs during the pre-season.

Harley even told The Courier that the club had the crux there to win a premiership, and president Mick Coffey said that it would be tough to earn a spot in the Blue Boars’ second grade side let alone top first XV.

However a season which offered so much promise is now over before it could even begin following an announcement on Sunday that the Central North Rugby Union senior competition had been abandoned following a meeting that morning.

The competition, which was scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 4, was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was given a July start date, then more recently that was pushed back until August.

However COVID-19 and the social distancing laws around it put in place by the Public Health Order have proved too difficult to overcome.

Coffey was part of a working group tasked to get the competition up and running but said the situation had become unviable for clubs.

He said that he was grateful for the efforts of all the other clubs, the zone executive and NSW Rugby development officer Garry Walsh, who he said had all worked hard despite limited information during a difficult time.

“Without any firm date for contact training, an actual starting date for a competition and also the crowd size limitations it has been decided that it is unviable for clubs to prepare for something that in all likelihood, wouldn’t eventuate,” Coffey said.

“It’s disappointing indeed, but we remained positive the whole time.

“We worked hard to communicate well with all the clubs and the zone executive and invested a great deal of time into having different options to consider as dates came and went.”

Coffey said that the Blue Boars remained positive of playing games later in the year.

“Whilst the possibility of participating in rugby of some sort later in the year still exists, for the now there’ll be nothing happening on the field for the Blue Boars,” Coffey said.

“All is not lost though. Players are still encouraged to keep fit, and stay in touch with the coaching staff.

“There are options that can and will be considered at later dates if the situation improves and the coaching staff will be working with the committee to keep all options open.

“We’ll also invest our time into keeping everyone engaged with the club, and there’s several plans for some unique, fun, off-season activities for everyone, not just players that promise to be really great events-provided social distancing laws permit-so stay tuned.”

Coffey also declared that the Blue Boars would be back bigger and better in the 2021 season.

“One thing you all know you can count on is this – the Blue Boars will bounce back, and we’ll bounce back in a big way,” Coffey said.

“The energy and enthusiasm that was seen in this year’s pre-season and flowed into our first games against Roma was something special to be a part of. I have no doubt that 2021 will be a great year for our club, and this current predicament has certainly reminded us all just how much the Blue Boars and Dangar Park mean to us, so we’ll all be keener than ever for rugby once again.”

Meanwhile Coffey’s efforts and leadership have not been lost on the Narrabri rugby union community in 2020, with one Blue Boars fan praising the first-year senior president on social media.

“[Your] leadership throughout this 2020 season as president of the Blue Boars has been [an] example for the whole Grassroots Rugby Community across Australia. You have managed to continue to engage with the players, sponsors and community throughout the most turbulent seasons since WWII. A big achievement for any veteran Club President, let alone one in his first term of office. Keep up the great work and keep the engagement going,” the comment said.