Willie Swann
Willie Swann (born 1974) is a rugby league coach and former player of Samoan heritage; belonging to the ufa'akie tribe of western Auckland. He currently coaches the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. He is a former Samoan international and played for the Warrington Wolves and the Auckland Warriors.
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.[1] He was a Junior Kiwi in 1993.[2] He played for the Auckland Warriors Colts in 1995.[3]
For Samoa, he played in both the 1995 and 2000 World Cups scoring .5 points.[4]
Later years
In 2006 and 2007 Swann worked as a supply and rugby teacher in Great Sankey High School, Cheshire. 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 teaching social studies and is also a dean at Liston College.
In 2012 he was appointed the New Zealand Warriors new Development coach.[5] 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.[6][7]
Personal life
His brother, Anthony Swann, and cousin, Logan Swann, both also played rugby league.
References
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.121
- ↑ Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3. p.183
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.89
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/results_and_fixtures.stm 2000 world cup results and squads
- ↑ Warriors add teen Palavi on three-year deal stuff.co.nz, 16 February 2012
- ↑ Swann named as Vulcans' new coach New Zealand Herald, 4 December 2012
- ↑ Jones returns to Warriors in coaching & development role rleague.com, 12 November 2012