Father and son duo take on top roles for the 2025 rugby union campaign

Rugby union in both Narrabri and the entire Central North zone is in safe hands for another year following the appointments of James Kahl and his son Daniel Kahl to presidents roles for the 2025 campaign.

James Kahl, who is a Narrabri Blue Boars life member, club patron and former player and president, took the reins of the Central North Rugby Union committee at Sunday’s annual general meeting in Barraba just three days after Daniel became Narrabri Rugby Club’s new president at their AGM last Thursday.

Daniel, who has spent many years on the committees of both the Blue Boars and the zone, replaces outgoing president Mick Coffey as he stepped aside to move into the secretary and registrar roles following five years at the helm.

Coffey replaced James Kahl as the club’s president at the AGM in 2019 and successfully guided the Narrabri Blue Boars through drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, and oversaw two women’s premierships, one of which he was the coach for, as well as two first grade premierships, two festival of rugby events and the club’s 60th-anniversary celebrations.

New president Daniel Kahl, who most recently served as the junior vice-president for the past 12 months, thanked and congratulated Coffey for his leadership and success.

“The club is hugely grateful for the service it has been given by outgoing president Mick Coffey,” Kahl said.

“Coff’s tenure over five seasons began in a challenging time as he led the club through the COVID-disrupted 2020 and 2021 seasons, and has since been marked by some incredible milestones in the three seasons.

“Under his leadership, the club has hosted two Santos Festivals of Rugby, won two premierships in first grade, back-to-back women’s premierships, and has celebrated its 60th year.

“He has been a multiple winner of the Zingari club person of the year in that time and this year was awarded the CNRU services to rugby award.

“The club is undoubtedly in a better place for it’s time with Coff at the helm. We’re very fortunate to have a person so dedicated to our game and our club, and are grateful to have Coff continue in the club’s leadership as secretary.”

Coffey told The Courier that he was proud of both his and the club’s achievements during his time as the Blue Boars’ president and that he is now excited for the future with Kahl in the top job.

“We comfortably formed a really big committee and it was a well-attended AGM,” he said.

“It’s really exciting moving forward.

“I think DK will be fantastic in the role. Everyone has their own skillsets and passions, and his is very much governance and good procedure. I didn’t make too many errors that got us into any trouble, but there are times where I’m a get it done and then figure out the paperwork later type of person, but in today’s era you’re a little bit exposed if you do things like that. DK will really step things up a notch there.

“He’s had a year off from playing as well, so he’ll be more in the mindset of a retired player than a current player, so there will be fresh thought there, but at the same time, he is not too distant from that playing group, so I think it will all work really well.

“It was a weird feeling for me, which I think is a natural emotion whenever you’re letting go of something you’ve done for so long.

“I’ve been really lucky to have had a lot of people say some really nice things to me.

“I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done. Everyone leaves a different touch, and you hope to leave it better than it was, and I’d like to think I’ve done that.

“The timing is right and I feel like I’ve enhanced the place, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Coffey declared that the zone will be well looked after in 2025 with James Kahl at the helm of the CNRU committee.

“James will be fantastic for the zone,” Coffey predicted.

“He is coming in with plenty of enthusiasm, and that will certainly help things.

“I was there at the AGM where he gave a short address as to what he saw he can help with in Central North and where it can go, and to be honest it was pretty inspiring. It was something you’d normally hear from a 25-year-old, not a bloke of his age. I don’t know where he gets his energy from.

“The clubs really bought in and it was the most positive Central North AGM I’ve been to in a long time, of not ever.

“I think James will do really well. The Kahl family are renowned for being doers, and I think we’ll see that at both Central North and club level.”

Coffey also commended the hard work and dedication shown by the outgoing Central North president, Paul King, across his four years in the role.

“The Blue Boars are really grateful for Paul’s efforts,” Coffey said.

“Especially the last 12 months. He had let the entire zone know with plenty of notice that he didn’t want to go a round for a fourth year and it was time for someone else to step up, but nobody did, so he continued on for another 12 months when the easy option would have just been to walk away.

“He deserves a lot of praise for doing that. The zone could have been in a lot of trouble if NSW Country had to come in and take us over. Hats off to him for that. It’s a really selfless act and we’re really grateful to him for doing so.

“He’s probably presided over the toughest period the zone has ever had, to be honest, and he’s come out the other side. He should really have nothing but respect and praise from everyone.”

The Narrabri Rugby Club committee for 2025 is as follows:
President – Daniel Kahl, senior vice-president – Morgan Jones, junior vice-president – Gerri Rumsby, treasurer – Natalia McInnes, secretary/registrar – Mick Coffey, club captain – Sam Spanton, appointed directors – Alex Reed and Tori Allison, general directors – Ben Redfern, Nick Anderson, Linton Grumley, Angie Jones, Kavina Kumar, Dylan Duncan and Will Turner, club patrons – Helen Cameron, James Kahl, Peter McDonnell and Wayne Nott.

The Central North zone committee is as follows:
President – James Kahl, senior vice-president – David Watts, junior vice-president – Evan Geary, secretary – Amie Middlemiss, treasurer – David Rodgers, competition manager – Tim Elliot.

Meanwhile, Narrabri Rugby Club announced on Monday that the Blue Boars were now inviting applications to coach the women’s 10s and men’s first grade and reserve grade teams for season 2025. Applications will close at 5pm on, Friday, November 8.