Narrabri Rugby Club to host annual Ladies’ Day on Saturday

Saturday is gearing up to be a day to remember for local rugby union fans as Narrabri Rugby Club prepares to host its annual Ladies’ Day event at Dangar Park in round nine of the 2023 Central North Rugby Union season.

Ladies’ Day is an important event on the calendar for the Blue Boars as it allows the club to celebrate all of the women, both past and present, who have helped to shape the local club into the success that it is today.

Spectators will be treated to three games on the day between the Blue Boars and the Gunnedah Red Devils, two of which are arguably the most highly-anticipated games so far this season.

Kicking off the day is a top-of-the-table women’s tens clash between the teams ranked first and second on the ladder.

The Blue Boars go into the game on top, but only points for and against difference separates the hosts and Gunnedah.

Both teams have won six from six so far this year and are locked on 39 points, having both accumulated five bonus points each as well as 10 points each from byes.

This weekend’s fixture will see one of the teams break away and take the outright lead at the top of the table at the halfway mark of the season.

Narrabri Rugby Club president and women’s team co-coach Mick Coffey told The Courier that he was excited for the blockbuster matchup against the other form team of the women’s competition.

“It’s a top-of-the-table clash, which is always exciting,” he said.

“It couldn’t be a bigger game for the girls.”

Narrabri will be without the injured Tori Allison and could potentially still be missing its injured captain/coach Peta Cox, but is otherwise expected to be full strength as Miranda Hamilton makes her return from an injury that she suffered in the side’s first game of the year back in round three.

Meanwhile, the first grade contest between the Blue Boars and the Red Devils is also shaping up to be one of the biggest games of the year.

The Kookaburra Challenge Cup is on the line, which the Red Devils have held since they won 17-13 on home soil against a Moree Bulls side that had won it off the Tamworth Pirates a week earlier.

Saturday’s round nine match will be just the second time that Narrabri Rugby Club has played with the cup on the line in two seasons.

It is also a grand final rematch as the two teams meet for the first time since the Blue Boars won the CNRU first grade premiership in Gunnedah back in September.

However, despite the hype around the game for those two factors, Blue Boars coach Jake Packer believes it is simply a chance for his side to get back on track.

The Narrabri men are currently ranked fifth following their third loss of the season in round eight against the Pirates on June 3, and Packer said that he wanted to see a response from his side.

“I’m very pumped, especially after what happened over there against Pirates,” he said.

“We want a bit of redemption and to also get one over Gunnedah again.

“I just want to get the boys rolling.

“There’s all that narrative around the game, but at the end of the day, we are just looking to do a job against a quality side, not only to get us back on track, but to show the comp that we are the best and we are not going away.”

The Blue Boars will be without Josh Schwager and Morgan Jones (away) and also Linton Grumley (injury) this weekend, but will welcome back key forwards Jack Maunder (suspension) and Greg Melton (concussion stand down) for the grand final rematch.

The Blue Boars have more troops back on deck across the men’s squad, which is timely after the club’s second grade side forfeited against Pirates in round eight.

Coffey declared that the Blue Boars were embarrassed by that outcome and said the club was looking forward to fielding a team in all grades for the remainder of the season.

Coffey and Packer agreed that the Blue Boars’ annual Ladies’ Day event was always a brilliant occasion and a great chance to thank all the women who have contributed to the club over the years.