Daniel Kahl receives prestigious Central North Rugby Union award

It’s a well-known fact that community sport in the bush can only function at its greatest potential when it is being driven by dedicated individuals in executive and committee positions.

So, with someone like Daniel Kahl around putting his heart and soul into rugby union, it’s no wonder the code is thriving the way it is in both Narrabri and the wider Central North zone.

Kahl goes above and beyond in his roles as the zone’s junior vice-president and Narrabri Rugby Club’s assistant secretary.

His contribution to his club was summarised best by the Blue Boars’ club president Mick Coffey who told The Courier that “without DK, we’d need another half a dozen people to join our committee”.

After being an invaluable member of the Blue Boars’ committee for many years, Kahl has excelled in his first on the Central North Rugby Union committee during the past 12 months.

He has driven positive change among the CNRU ranks and helped set new and improved professional standards.

Among other things, he is also the Narrabri Rugby Club’s referee liaison, a long-time Blue Boars player and committee member, a referee and a CN Kookaburras representative.

He’s also, perhaps most importantly, a great mate to many and someone that everyone can go to for help and advice.

At Sunday’s CNRU annual general meeting, held at the Barrabra Rugby Club, Kahl was deservedly recognised for his hard work and dedication to the game as he received one of the zone’s most prestigious awards when he was named the prime services to rugby winner for 2021.

He joined Graham Cameron (1989), David Maxwell (1997), Helen Cameron (1998), Dave Owens (2002), Martin Browne (2004) and Ben Redfern (2011) as Narrabri Rugby Club members to receive the award.

While it was no surprise that Kahl would be acknowledged for his invaluable service to the game he loves, he was both overwhelmed and honoured to receive the recognition.

“It was a bit of a surprise, it certainly wasn’t expected at all,” Kahl said.

“Like most people that volunteer their time for their sport or their community groups, it’s not the reason why you do that sort of thing.

“Again, I’m surprised but also very appreciative of the acknowledgment of some of the efforts that I’ve made towards footy and Central North.”

Kahl said that he and the entire CNRU committee were determined to improve the standard of the game in the zone.

“I’ve been involved in the game in Central North at various levels and attended CNRU meetings for many years, but this year was my first on the Central North committee,” he said.

“With the group that we have on the committee at the moment, we are keen to improve where the game’s at in Central North and move things forward so that we can create the best environment possible for our clubs, referees, sponsors and supporters.”

Coffey backed Kahl and his fellow Central North committee members to achieve that goal.

He said that he was proud of the Blue Boars stalwart and added that he well and truly deserved the prime services to rugby award.

“When it’s all said and done, it goes to an individual in the zone – it can be male, female, young or old – who works very hard for the game,” Coffey said.

“Outside playing awards such as zone best and fairest, there isn’t a more prestigious award you can win.

“It’s a great recognition for DK, still a young fella, to be thought of that highly by everyone else around the zone.

“It’s a huge achievement, one that he absolutely deserves.

“At the Blue Boars, we like to boast about ourselves being the top of the tree, the benchmark, all those kinds of clichés. DK is a massive part of the reason why we can say those things and why we function the way we do.

“He’s not just a valued committee member, but he’s a player too. The hours people have to commit just to play, let alone be on the committee, is pretty big. So it’s rare for someone to succeed at both, which he has for a long time now.

“He’s certainly one of a kind.”