'Time for a fresh start': Swain excited to spring into action with Force
Tue, Oct 1, 2024, 2:00 PM
by Ben Somerford
New Western Force recruit Darcy Swain caught up with Force TV to discuss his move to Perth from the ACT Brumbies, plus life as a new dad following the recent birth of his son.
Western Force recruit Darcy Swain says getting on tour in South Africa is the best way to get to know his new teammates ahead of the opening Toyota Challenge game against the Cheetahs (Thursday 1am WST).
Swain, 27, has been named to play for the Force for the first time having linked up with the Club in Perth last month, before jetting to Bloemfontein with the touring squad last Wednesday.
The travelling squad have been hard at work in training but also spent time on safari on Monday ahead of their first game of the Toyota Challenge (Force games are live on Stan Sport).
The 17-cap Wallabies lock knows the likes of Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Bayley Kuenzle, Sam Carter and Nic White from his time with the ACT Brumbies, but theres plenty of new faces to get familiar with.
Theres no better way to get to know blokes than get on tour and live in each others pockets for 24/7 for two weeks straight, Swain told Force TV prior to the teams departure for South Africa.
Ill definitely be getting to know everyone here. Im bloody keen to do that, get to know everyone and rip in with everyone.
The Force will play the Cheetahs (Thursday 1am WST), followed by Emerging Ireland (Sunday 7pm WST), with both games live streamed on Stan Sport. From there, the side will travel to Stellenbosch to face the DHL Western Province XV (Saturday 12 October 9pm WST).
Swain was excited about the prospect of facing the 2023 Currie Cup-winning Cheetahs, who edged the Force 3-1 in a four-game series last year.
Currie Cup semi-finalists, they only just went down to the Lions, Swain said.
Bloody tough opposition, theyre very hard at home. Obviously were traveling 12 hours to get there, its a bit of a stint. I know its something that we can do. The series last year was very close. I want to do that again.
Swains move to the Force comes after eight years with the Brumbies, where he captained the side, played in a Super Rugby AU title and earned his Wallabies debut in 2021.
The 200cm second-rower, who was born in Queensland's far north before moving to Canberra straight after high school, explained he felt the time was right to make the switch west.
It was just time for a fresh start, he said. Id been there for eight years and in Canberra for 10 years.
It was time for a fresh start, it was an opportunity to come west and it was one I didnt want to turn down.
To do something with a young group and a group thats doing something, building for the future, I want to be part of that.
It sounds a bit cliché, but I want to come over and do something different. The opportunity to come over with Crono and a few of the boys Ive played with in the past, I didnt want to turn it down.
We just welcomed little Roman into the world a few months ago now, Swain said. Its exciting, its different being a dad. Im finding it hard being away from them."
As for his hobbies now he's a father, he laughed: It means no more golf! I was a bit of a golfer. Theres a bit of a crew back in Canberra, we called ourselves the Gold Creek Golfers. We used to jam quite a bit, but not anymore.
Its gone from twice a week to twice a month, if that. Just enjoying time with the little fella at the moment.
For now, Swain has put down the clubs, with the focus on the rugby with the Force ahead of their Toyota Challenge opener against the Cheetahs.
2025 Force Memberships will go on sale on Tuesday 8 October at westernforce.rugby.
https://westernforce.rugby/news/darc...series-2024101
by Ben Somerford
New Western Force recruit Darcy Swain caught up with Force TV to discuss his move to Perth from the ACT Brumbies, plus life as a new dad following the recent birth of his son.
Western Force recruit Darcy Swain says getting on tour in South Africa is the best way to get to know his new teammates ahead of the opening Toyota Challenge game against the Cheetahs (Thursday 1am WST).
Swain, 27, has been named to play for the Force for the first time having linked up with the Club in Perth last month, before jetting to Bloemfontein with the touring squad last Wednesday.
The travelling squad have been hard at work in training but also spent time on safari on Monday ahead of their first game of the Toyota Challenge (Force games are live on Stan Sport).
The 17-cap Wallabies lock knows the likes of Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Bayley Kuenzle, Sam Carter and Nic White from his time with the ACT Brumbies, but theres plenty of new faces to get familiar with.
Theres no better way to get to know blokes than get on tour and live in each others pockets for 24/7 for two weeks straight, Swain told Force TV prior to the teams departure for South Africa.
Ill definitely be getting to know everyone here. Im bloody keen to do that, get to know everyone and rip in with everyone.
The Force will play the Cheetahs (Thursday 1am WST), followed by Emerging Ireland (Sunday 7pm WST), with both games live streamed on Stan Sport. From there, the side will travel to Stellenbosch to face the DHL Western Province XV (Saturday 12 October 9pm WST).
Swain was excited about the prospect of facing the 2023 Currie Cup-winning Cheetahs, who edged the Force 3-1 in a four-game series last year.
Currie Cup semi-finalists, they only just went down to the Lions, Swain said.
Bloody tough opposition, theyre very hard at home. Obviously were traveling 12 hours to get there, its a bit of a stint. I know its something that we can do. The series last year was very close. I want to do that again.
Swains move to the Force comes after eight years with the Brumbies, where he captained the side, played in a Super Rugby AU title and earned his Wallabies debut in 2021.
The 200cm second-rower, who was born in Queensland's far north before moving to Canberra straight after high school, explained he felt the time was right to make the switch west.
It was just time for a fresh start, he said. Id been there for eight years and in Canberra for 10 years.
It was time for a fresh start, it was an opportunity to come west and it was one I didnt want to turn down.
To do something with a young group and a group thats doing something, building for the future, I want to be part of that.
It sounds a bit cliché, but I want to come over and do something different. The opportunity to come over with Crono and a few of the boys Ive played with in the past, I didnt want to turn it down.
We just welcomed little Roman into the world a few months ago now, Swain said. Its exciting, its different being a dad. Im finding it hard being away from them."
As for his hobbies now he's a father, he laughed: It means no more golf! I was a bit of a golfer. Theres a bit of a crew back in Canberra, we called ourselves the Gold Creek Golfers. We used to jam quite a bit, but not anymore.
Its gone from twice a week to twice a month, if that. Just enjoying time with the little fella at the moment.
For now, Swain has put down the clubs, with the focus on the rugby with the Force ahead of their Toyota Challenge opener against the Cheetahs.
2025 Force Memberships will go on sale on Tuesday 8 October at westernforce.rugby.
https://westernforce.rugby/news/darc...series-2024101