Willie Swann
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Swann
Born (1974-02-25) 25 February 1974 (age 49)
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
PositionScrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1996–97 Warrington Wolves 37 13 0 0 52
2001–04 Leigh Centurions 99 32 0 0 128
Total 136 45 0 0 180
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995–00 Samoa 6 2 0 0 8
Source: [1]

Willie Swann (born 1974) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer and coach of Samoan heritage. He currently coaches the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. He is a former Samoa international and vice-captain. He also played for the Warrington Wolves, Leigh Centurions and the Auckland Warriors.[1]

Playing career

Swann was a Marist Saints junior who played fifteen matches for the Waitakere City Raiders in the 1994 Lion Red Cup, scoring 29 points.[2] He was a Junior Kiwi in 1993.[3] He played for the Auckland Warriors Colts in 1995.[4] He was an Auckland Warrior 1995-1996 where he played a crucial role in laying a platform for the reserve grade to reach the 1996 grand final.

For Samoa, he played in both the 1995 and 2000 World Cups scoring 5 points.[5]

Later years

In 2006 and 2007 Swann worked as a supply and rugby teacher in Great Sankey High School, Cheshire, England. He coached the G.S.H.S Year 10 (2006–07), rugby league team to both the North West and National finals, narrowly losing 19–18 in Uxbridge.

Between 2009 and 2010 he was the head coach of the East Coast Bays Barracudas alongside Joe Vagana. He was an old boy at Liston College, and is now a teacher and dean there.[6]

In 2012, he was appointed the New Zealand Warriors new Development coach.[7] He was originally appointed the Warriors Toyota Cup assistant coach for the 2013 season before taking a role as the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup head coach.[8][9] He was an assistant NSW Cup coach for the Warriors in 2015 and in 2016 he coached the Mount Albert Lions.[10][11]

Personal life

His brother, Anthony Swann, and cousin, Logan Swann, both also played rugby league professionally.

References

  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby League, 1994. p.121
  3. ^ Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3. p.183
  4. ^ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby League, 1995. p.89
  5. ^ "2000 world cup results and squads". bbc.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Swann to coach Vulcans in NSW Cup". Voxy. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Warriors add teen Palavi on three-year deal". stuff.co.nz. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Swann named as Vulcans' new coach". nzherald.co.nz. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Jones returns to Warriors in coaching & development role". rleague.com. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Well-travelled-Carmont-joins-Warriors-reserves". stuff.co.nz. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Team Sheet". reg.sportingpulse.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
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