The grandstands have been constructed and Dangar Park has been carefully curated, all in anticipation of this week’s Santos Festival of Rugby festivities.
Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the action at the rugby fields across Friday and Saturday.
And Narrabri’s pristine sporting field, coupled with the highly anticipated Saturday blockbuster Waratahs versus Reds match, will be broadcast for all to see.
The Saturday evening game will be broadcast on streaming platform Stan as well as the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs media channels.
While all of the action will be at Dangar Park, the program includes events off the field.
A Women in Rugby breakfast will be held at the Tourist Hotel on Friday morning with action starting at the playing fields in the afternoon.
The Friday festivities will draw to a close with a performance by country music artist Brad Cox.
The Long Lunch will be held at The Crossing Theatre on Saturday, with proceeds supporting NSW Country Rugby in the Region as well as the Narrabri Blue Boars.
The action kicks off at Dangar Park in the afternoon, with an action-packed schedule of football planned.
A performance by country rock sensation Casey Barnes will mark the finale of the Santos Festival of Rugby.
Mayor Ron Campbell said the festival was an event that will bring the community together.
“This event showcases Narrabri Shire for the whole world to see, which is a wonderful thing,” Cr Campbell said.
“You can’t buy that sort of advertising for our shire. It’s invaluable.
“We will see a fantastic event that will benefit the whole of the Narrabri Shire as well as the broader region.”
Narrabri Rugby Club president Mick Coffey said the return of the Festival of Rugby was exciting for the Blue Boars as well as the broader community.
“Our club is blessed with passionate, dedicated and hard-working committee members and volunteers. The lengths these people go to in our club’s pursuit of success both on and off the field never ceases to amaze me,” Mr Coffey said.
“It is inspiring to be a part of such a wonderful group. Our club has arrived to where it is today from the hard work and passion of those before us, and we strive to continue to provide a welcoming, safe, fun and successful club that people want to be a part of.”
What’s on at the Festival of Rugby
Thursday:
5pm: Junior coaching clinic, Dangar Park. Registrations required.
6.30pm: Coach the coaches session, Dangar Park. Registrations required.
Friday:
8.30am: Women in Rugby Breakfast (Tourist Hotel). Separate ticket required, bookings through Trybooking.
1.15pm: Gates open at Dangar Park.
1.20pm: AON Next Gen 7s game 1 – QLD v NSW.
1.45pm: Vintage Barbarians v Narrabri Pickled Porkies.
2.25pm: Narrabri Blue Boars v Roma Echidnas women’s 10s.
3pm: AON Next Gen Women’s 7s game 2 – QLD v AON Rising Stars.
3.30pm: Narrabri Blue Boars v Roma Echidnas men.
4.40pm: AON Next Gen Women’s 7s game – NSW v AON Rising Stars.
5pm: NSW Country v QLD Country women.
7.30pm: NSW Country v QLD Country men.
8.50pm: Brad Cox performance.
11pm: Gates close.
Saturday:
1pm: Long Lunch (The Crossing Theatre). Separate ticket required, bookings through IWannaTicket.
2pm: Gates open at Dangar Park.
2.05pm: AON Next Gen Women’s 7s game 4 – NSW v AON Rising Stars.
2.30pm: North West youth 7s.
3.25pm: AON Next Gen Women’s 7s game 5 – AON Rising Stars v QLD.
3.55pm: North West youth 7s.
4.45pm: AON Next Gen Women’s 7s game 6 – NSW v QLD.
5.15pm: Super W – NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds women.
7.45pm: Super Rugby – NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds.
12am: Gates close, festival concludes.
