:Willie Swann

{{short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Willie Swann

|fullname = William Swann

|image =

|image_size =

|position = {{rlp|SH}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|2|25|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

|height =

|weight =

|club1 = Warrington Wolves

|year1start = 1996

|year1end = 97

|appearances1 = 37

|tries1 = 13

|goals1 = 0

|fieldgoals1 = 0

|points1 = 52

|club2 = Leigh Centurions

|year2start = 2001

|year2end = 04

|appearances2 = 99

|tries2 = 32

|goals2 = 0

|fieldgoals2 = 0

|points2 = 128

|teamA = Samoa

|yearAstart = 1995

|yearAend = 00

|appearancesA = 6

|triesA = 2

|goalsA = 0

|fieldgoalsA = 0

|pointsA = 8

|retired = yes

|source = {{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/willie-swann/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}

|updated =

| module = {{infobox person

| embed = yes

| father =

| mother =

| spouse =

| education =

| alma_mater =

| relatives = Anthony Swann (brother)
Logan Swann (cousin)

}}

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.

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.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby League, 1994. p.121 He was a Junior Kiwi in 1993.Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. {{ISBN|1-86950-154-3}}. p.183 He played for the Auckland Warriors Colts in 1995.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby League, 1995. p.89

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.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/results_and_fixtures.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001110083400/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/results_and_fixtures.stm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2000|title=2000 world cup results and squads|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/swann-coach-vulcans-nsw-cup/5/142413 |title=Swann to coach Vulcans in NSW Cup |publisher=Voxy |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=8 October 2021}}

In 2012, he was appointed the New Zealand Warriors new Development coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6429918/Warriors-add-teen-Palvi-on-three-year-deal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218045944/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6429918/Warriors-add-teen-Palvi-on-three-year-deal|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2012|title=Warriors add teen Palavi on three-year deal|publisher=stuff.co.nz|date=16 February 2012|access-date=1 January 2013}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10851892&ref=rss|title=Swann named as Vulcans' new coach|publisher=nzherald.co.nz|date=4 December 2012|access-date=1 January 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=46030|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104135539/http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=46030|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2013|title=Jones returns to Warriors in coaching & development role|publisher=rleague.com|date=12 November 2012 |access-date=1 January 2013}} He was an assistant NSW Cup coach for the Warriors in 2015 and in 2016 he coached the Mount Albert Lions.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10663248/Well-travelled-Carmont-joins-Warriors-reserves|title=Well-travelled-Carmont-joins-Warriors-reserves|publisher=stuff.co.nz|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://reg.sportingpulse.com/v6/results/team_sheet_template.cgi?tsID=2&tID=1481027&a=2&mID=19833364&aID=12656|title=Team Sheet|publisher=reg.sportingpulse.com|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}