Celebrations will be in full swing this weekend when the glory days of the Narrabri Rugby Club’s 1973 double premiership are remembered at a 50-year reunion.
The Blue Boars stormed home in emphatic fashion to claim premierships in first and reserve grades.
Rod Rees and Terry Miller have been preparing for the weekend’s festivities and scoured The Courier’s archives looking for coverage of the double triumph.
The sport section coverage detailed the build up to the penultimate match.
Narrabri claimed the first grade shield in a nail-biting 7-6 victory over Gunnedah. In reserve grade, the Blue Boars triumphed 16-7 over Tamworth claiming their first ever premiership flag.
The front page of the Monday Courier following the epic victories was aptly headlined ‘Great rugby double’.
The 1972 premiership, where the Blue Boars defeated an undefeated Tamworth team in a 30-nil grand final drubbing, will also be remembered.
Mr Rees, who played in the premiership side, said it was a great era to be involved in the club.
“In those days we were a fledgling club playing at Collins Park,” he said.
“We didn’t have our club house and we would go back to the Tourist after the game.”
Out of that double triumph, and the previous year’s thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 1972 grand final, grew the thriving club that exists today.
Mr Miller, who served as the reserves coach, said 42 players from the two 1973 sides were attending this weekend’s festivities.
Mr Rees and Mr Miller are also pleased to welcome a few ‘originals’ of the first Blue Boars team from its 1964 debut year.
The celebrations start with a Friday get-together at the Narrabri Golf Club.
Past players will watch the Blue Boars take on Moree at Dangar Park on Saturday to be followed by dinner at the Tourist Hotel.
“I hope that people who can remember come along and join us,” Mr Rees said.
The Courier on Monday, September 3, 1973, following the epic grand final weekend.
