Junior Blue Boars trio star at NSW Rugby event in Bathurst

Three Narrabri Junior Blue Boars have returned home with a major achievement under their belts and having put their names on the radar at state level after helping Northern NSW’s Under-17s representative side claim an unbeaten title at the 2026 NSW Rugby Union Youth Development Program tournament in Bathurst.

Nick Coffey, Gabe O’Connor and Angelo Afoa travelled from Narrabri to play at the event, and they finished the weekend having won all three of their games while showcasing their quality against strong opposition across the three-day tournament.

The Narrabri High School boys were selected into NSW Rugby’s Development Academy back in September.

The academy operates beneath the Gen Blue program and is designed to develop talented players, particularly those from regional areas who may not be able to commit to Sydney-based training.

The program provides access to high-level coaching, opportunities to play alongside and against stronger players, and off-field education, covering areas such as mental health, nutrition, body awareness and game planning.

After several months of preparation, which included a mix of satellite sessions, individual training programs, online learning and team training, the squad assembled for a camp at the NSW Sport and Recreation rugby facilities at Lake Keepit before heading off to Bathurst on Friday morning for the weekend’s matches.

The tournament was contested in cold and windy conditions at the home of the Bathurst Bulldogs Rugby Club, and the Northern NSW boys were too good from start to finish.

They opened their campaign on Friday night with a commanding 32–0 victory over Hunter/Central Coast.

Despite having limited possession, the team’s defensive effort stood out as they repeatedly repelled larger opponents and converted errors into points when opportunities arose.

Saturday night’s match against the Barbarians saw Northern NSW lift their attacking intensity, which resulted in a 52-12 victory.

The forwards played direct and physical rugby throughout that contest, creating momentum that allowed the halves and backline to operate with speed and precision, while brilliant support play ensured scoring chances were maximised.

The final match on Sunday morning against South West was the most physical of the event for Northern NSW.

With sore bodies right across the squad, they produced a committed performance to win 36-0 and finish as the tournament’s champions in the under-17s boys’ division, holding their strongest opposition scoreless.

All three Narrabri boys thrived in what was the highest level of rugby they have played in, and earned strong praise from NSW Rugby coaches.

Angelo was a powerful presence in the forward pack, combining physical defence, strong ball carries and outstanding mobility, with his fitness allowing him to stay heavily involved throughout matches.

Nick controlled the game quite effectively from halfback, delivering quick and accurate service, showing courage in defence, and also providing strong leadership and decision-making.

Gabe provided composure and creativity at flyhalf, directing the backline smoothly, making significant metres in attack, and also landing five conversions in difficult conditions.

The familiar club combination of Angelo, Nick and Gabe proved effective at the representative level, which was a credit to the Narrabri Junior Blue Boars and a promising sign for the club’s under-18s team in 2026.