A new Central North Rugby Union campaign will get underway this Saturday when all six teams line up in round one of the 2026 competition.
The Narrabri Blue Boars will travel up the Newell Highway to Weebolla Oval to challenge their rivals, the Moree Bulls, while the Tamworth Pirates host the Inverell Highlanders, and the Quirindi Lions welcome the Gunnedah Red Devils.
Narrabri are the defending champions in the women’s competition after winning a record third consecutive premiership in 2025, and a similar-looking side is now hungry to make more history this season as it hunts a fourth straight minor and major premiership double.
April Smith has replaced Andrew Gale as coach of that champion team.
Narrabri have not won a reserve grade premiership since they defeated Moree 15-5 in Tamworth back in 2018, and Mick Coffey will look to guide them back to the top in 2026.
There is no better way to stamp their authority on the new season than a match-up against the defending champs, Moree, in enemy territory on Saturday.
The 2025 season was a premiership defence for the Blue Boars’ first XV after they beat the Moree Bulls on home soil at Dangar Park to win the 2024 premiership in Craig Gleeson’s maiden season at the helm, but his men were knocked out in the first week of the finals last year after finishing fourth on the ladder.
It was the Quirindi Lions who defeated them in the minor semi-final before they went on to win their first premiership in 33 years as they took down the Bulls 57-26 on grand final day at Weebolla Oval.
Both Narrabri and Moree are now looking to improve on their 2025 finishes, ensuring that this Saturday’s round one clash will be a typical fierce battle between the two rivals.
With a third grade contest also scheduled to ensure an entertaining day of rugby with four highly-anticipated matches, the Narrabri Rugby Club’s first grade coach is looking forward to the 2026 CNRU season getting underway with a bang.
“I think everyone has been hanging out for the season to start. Even though we’ve had trial footy, there’s nothing like that first comp game,” Gleeson told The Courier.
“The buzz was there (on Tuesday) night at training and you can tell everyone is keen for the first game of the season.
“The fact that we get to go to Moree to play it adds a little bit to that as well.
“I think for the club as a whole, we should be looking forward to a successful 2026. We have better depth this year than last year, and the effort at training has been really good.
“Getting back-to-back footy week in and week out this year is something the first grade team in particular are looking forward to.
“Getting to test our depth and physicality and ability to back up is a big part of first grade footy, and that wasn’t there last year with all the byes and weekends off.
“We’re looking forward to having a full season of footy this year.”
For Saturday’s opener against Moree, Gleeson said he had named a side that had impressed with their commitment and dedication across this year’s pre-season.
“It’s our strongest 15 that have been training regularly,” Gleeson said.
“We’re a few weeks off having the strongest 15 that we could have out there, but in saying that, the 15 we have named make a really handy team.
“Moree first up is a really good way to start the season. As I’ve said before, it’s our second home ground there, really. We’ve played so much footy up there including regular season and finals.
“I think Moree would be dealing with their own mental battles after the outcome of last season, so it’s probably a good time to get them as well.”
Narrabri’s team list for the first grade game at Moree this Saturday is as follows:
1. Jed Brennan, 2. Will Turner, 3. Will Ciesiolka, 4. Jack Smith, 5. Rob Burke, 6. Jack Maunder (c), 7. Charlie Turner, 8. Hamish Nolan, 9. Charlie Radford, 10. Jake Packer, 11. James Baker, 12. Jock Small, 13. Will McDonnell (c), 14. Andrew Webber, 15. Joe Baker, 16. Joe Maunder, 17. Nick Anderson, 18. Clayton Chapman, 19. Tom Cameron, 20. Sam Knight, 21. TBA, 22. Nick Coffey, 23. TBA.
