NSW Rugby Union announces desire to get community rugby back on the park

There is light at the end of the tunnel for community rugby union and Dangar Park, the home of the Narrabri Rugby Club, could welcome the return of the game as early as July.

The 2020 Central North Rugby Union season along with all rugby union in Australia was suspended last month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the country.

On Friday, NSW Rugby Union announced that it was now targeting a July return for community competitions. That would include CNRU.

All rugby union-related activities, including training, are currently suspended until June 1, and NSWRU has indicated that any new developments regarding changes to that were subject to federal, state and local governments lifting or significantly easing restriction related to COVID-19.

“Based on the current advice from government and the anticipated easing of COVID-19 restrictions in coming months, in particular the potential lifting of public health orders on June 29, we are targeting the month of July for NSW community rugby to return to the field,” a NSWRU statement said.

“We will also be actively working to assist our clubs and their staff and volunteers to prepare for the re-start of training and games. These activities are likely to have continuing restrictions and controls including increased food hygiene, restricted spectator numbers, dressing room access, and ensuring no one attends who is ill, has flu-like symptoms or has recently returned from overseas, etc.”

No official date was recommended for that commencement by NSWRU.

NSWRU chief executive Paul Doorn said that government requirements must be followed.

“Our unions will work with all areas of community rugby to assist them to return to the field safely and expeditiously, while adhering to all relevant government requirements,” he said.

Narrabri Rugby Club president Mick Coffey told The Courier that whatever direction the CNRU took following the latest NSWRU update, the Blue Boars would be a part of the plans.

“We will make it work, Narrabri will always be a part of what Central North put out there,” he said.

“We will follow all directives given from any higher governance that we’ve got. It all now depends on what Central North and NSW Country provide to us. We still don’t have anything firm from them as to what the plans are so we’re going to assume that everything that came out in [the NSWRU] media release on Friday that that’s what we’ll be working on, a return to training with games that start in July.”

Coffey said that it looked like the first round of the originally-scheduled season would be scrapped and the second round would go ahead, with the season culminating in an October 3 grand final.

That finals series would be a four-team one, with major and minor semi-finals in week one, the preliminary final in week two and grand final day in week three.

“The option with the highest percentage of happening would be to play the second round of the competition as it’s already been set.

“That would give us four home games, four away games and a bye.

“Then a compressed finals series culminating in a grand final on October 3 which is the long weekend.”

Coffey added that it was crucial that all clubs were able to make it through the year financially, and said that the potential of playing crowd-less games would hurt the Blue Boars.

“Having no crowds would be a big loss for us because that gate for us is a big part of our revenue every year,” Coffey said.

“There is a break even point and if we don’t have spectators to be honest we won’t meet it.

“I think the critical thing is we’ve got to find the balance there where it’s still a relevant season so all clubs can participate at 100 per cent.

“Then at the same time we need to be quite mindful that it’s still expensive to run a rugby season, even a shortened one, with sponsors at all clubs doing it tough we’ve got to be mindful that we can’t send ourselves broke for the sake of half a dozen games of footy.

“I expect that the zone will come to the clubs and consult with us as to how we are financially and what our thoughts are on how we can participate and I think very soon, within the next week, we’ll have a firm answer on what’s happening and how we’ll go about it.”

Like most community rugby clubs across the country, the Narrabri Rugby Club often hosts special events at home gamedays including ladies’ days and old boys’ days.

Coffey said that the Blue Boars were determined to host those events if the season commences.

“If we only get the four home games scheduled to us, then we aim to host at least one, maybe two, finals games, but if we only get four bites at the cherry there will be something happening at all of them,” he said.

“There was four or five premiership reunions scheduled for this year as well so that would be old boys’ day then we would definitely have ladies’ day.

“If crowds can be there, then there will be something on all four of those weekends, you can guarantee that.”

The Courier reported on Thursday, April 9, that the Narrabri Rugby Club first grade coach Hunter Harley could not have been happier with his side’s progress during pre-season which started on Saturday, February 1.

Coffey echoed Harley’s thoughts and said that all players should be preparing themselves as though the season would commence in July.

“I’ve been in touch with a lot of players and I’ve talked to the coaches and committee a fair bit too,” Coffey said.

“I think the uncertainty hasn’t helped, with such a great start to the season with that game against Roma people knew how competitive it was going to be this year to get a spot in first grade so everyone was up for it then that was taken away.

“But now there’s a chance the we are going play footy I already know that‘s inspired blokes to put the joggers back on.

“I think those that have slackened off have picked it up and those that don’t will probably pay the consequences.

“Anyone who saw that game against Roma will know how hard it’s going to be to get a run in first grade, and even in reserve grade, it’s going to be a strong team.

“If guys aren’t fit they won’t get a look in so they’ll be doing themselves a disservice.”