Pirates No.6 Doug Biffin has gone from contemplating retirement to reacquainting himself with his first love, rugby league, while still playing rugby.
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Biffin was a surprise Cowboys selection against Boggabri at Dungowan on June 2, coming off the bench into the second-rower in an intense clash in which the Roos broke their long winning drought as rained pelted down.
The previous day he played in Pirates' 24-10 defeat of the Highlanders in Inverell.
Biffin described his latest league venture as "great fun". "I had an itch that needed scratching," he said.
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He was due to make his second appearance for Dungowan, in their 44-26 away loss to Werris Creek on Sunday, but pulled up too sore from Pirates' 54-0 thumping of Barraba at Ken Chillingworth Oval on Saturday.
Against Barraba, Biffin was named man of the match. Pirates coach Mat Kelly described Biffin's performance as "great". He does not have an issue with him playing both codes.
The Leader is not aware of anyone else playing first grade in both sports in Group 4 and Central North rugby.
Biffin, a Tamworth solicitor and father of two young children, will not have the chance to play for Dungowan again until their final regular-season match, away to Narrabri on August 18. It's the next time the Cowboys play on a Sunday. Rugby matches are played on Saturdays.
Biffin played league at Farrer with future NRL players Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Peter Taylor, winning the University Shield, before switching to union when he studied law at the University of New England. While there he won three premiership with St Albert's College.
Post-uni, he joined Pirates - winning five premierships with the club, including their three-peat of titles (2016-18).
He returned to league for one season, playing for North Tamworth in 2011. It was the Bears' centenary season. West Lions beat them in the grand final.
He then played for Dungowan in the Pepperell Shield preseason tournament one year, before concentrating solely on rugby until this season.
"There's a few mates that I played with at Norths, but also at Farrer, that are still having a run around out there [rugby league]," he said. "So it was good to catch up with those blokes, who I haven't seen for awhile."
Biffin said he could play rugby for a few more seasons.
In October, he marries his long-term partner, Karly Rixon.
