Richard Swain
{{short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer}}
{{for|the British virologist Richard Swain|R. H. A. Swain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| new = yes
| name = Richard Swain
| image = Richard Swain Hull FC.jpg
| caption = Swain playing for Hull in 2007
| fullname = Richard Gregory Swain[http://nzleague.co.nz/kiwis/player_profile.php?letter=S&id=680 SWAIN, RICHARD GREGORY 1999 - 2003 - KIWI #680] nzleague.co.nz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1975|07|02}}
| birth_place = Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
| height = {{convert|179|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|89|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| position = {{rlp|HK}}
| club1 = Hunter Mariners
| year1start = 1997
| year1end =
| appearances1 = 13
| tries1 = 0
| goals1 = 4
| fieldgoals1 = 0
| points1 = 8
| club2 = {{nowrap|Melbourne Storm}}
| year2start = 1998
| year2end = 02
| appearances2 = 132
| tries2 = 17
| goals2 = 12
| fieldgoals2 = 0
| points2 = 92
| club3 = Brisbane Broncos
| year3start = 2003
| year3end =
| appearances3 = 21
| tries3 = 0
| goals3 = 2
| fieldgoals3 = 0
| points3 = 4
| club4 = Hull FC
| year4start = 2004
| year4end = 07
| appearances4 = 94
| tries4 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 20
| retired = yes
| teamA = {{nowrap|New Zealand}}
| yearAstart = 1999
| yearAend = 03
| appearancesA = 20
| triesA = 4
| goalsA = 16
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 30
| updated = 27 October 2008
}}
Richard Swain (born 2 July 1975) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international {{rlp|hk}}, he played club football in Australia for the Hunter Mariners, Melbourne Storm (with whom he won the 1999 NRL premiership) and Brisbane Broncos and in England for Hull FC.
Early years
Swain was born and raised in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, he went to Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tamworth the same school as former Canberra Raiders captain Alan Tongue and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.{{cite web|title=Knights want Farrer as a nursery|url=http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/knights-want-farrer-as-nursery/1942931.aspx|publisher=The Northern Daily Leader|access-date=1 May 2012}}
Playing career
=Australia=
Swain made his first grade début in 1997, playing for the new Hunter Mariners club. With the demise of the club at the end of the year he moved south, joining the Melbourne Storm.
Swain never missed a game for the Melbourne Storm from the club's first ever match in round 1, 1998 up until his final game for the club in round 26, 2002.{{cite web|last=Mascord|first=Steve|title=Storm sack best-and-fairest Swain|date=24 July 2002 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/23/1027332379085.html|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=1 May 2012}} Swain declared his eligibility for New Zealand in 1999 and was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team for that year's ANZAC Test.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21459763.html Swain says he wants to play for New Zealand]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} AAP Sports News, 23 March 1999[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21477161.html Swain says he wants to play for New Zealand Changing face of New Zealand rugby league]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} AAP Sports News, 22 April 1999
Swain played at hooker in 1999 NRL Grand Final victory over St. George Illawarra. Swain was selected for the New Zealand team to compete in the end of season 1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations tournament. In the final against Australia he played at {{rlp|hk}} in the Kiwis' 22-20 loss. Having won the 1999 Premiership, the Melbourne Storm traveled to England to contest the 2000 World Club Challenge against Super League Champions St Helens R.F.C., with Kimmorley playing at {{rlp|hk}} in the victory.
Swain went on to play in nineteen tests for New Zealand, including at the 2000 World Cup.
Swain was named the Storm's player of the year in 2001.{{cite web|last=melbournestorm.com.au|title=NRL Honour Board|url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.aspx?s=nrl-honour-board|work=Club|publisher=Melbourne Storm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928161940/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.aspx?s=nrl-honour-board|archive-date=28 September 2013}} Swain also the first player in the National Rugby League to top 1,000 Tackles in a season and was also Super League's "Top Tackler" in 2004 with 907 tackles for Hull.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} He went on the 2002 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France and was the goal-kicker and leading point-scorer of the tour. Swain spent 2003 with the Brisbane Broncos before joining Hull F.C. for four years in the Super League.
=England=
Swain played at {{rlp|hk}} and was a major part in Hull F.C. winning the 2005 Challenge Cup, as it was his last gasp charge-down of Kevin Sinfield's drop-goal attempt that ended the Leeds Rhinos' last chance of taking the game to extra-time. Kevin Sinfield was named Lance Todd Trophy winner 5-minutes from time, when at the time Leeds Rhinos were winning. Hull F.C. reached the 2006 Super League Grand final to be contested against St. Helens and Swain played at {{rlp|hk}} in his side's 4-26 loss.{{cite news|title=St Helens 26-4 Hull FC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/6035553.stm|access-date=18 August 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=14 October 2006}}
Swain retired halfway through the 2007 season due to a back injury.[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rugby+League%3A+Swain+is+forced+to+quit+Hull.-a0166267612 Swain is forced to quit Hull] Liverpool Echo, 11 July 2007
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.nzrl.co.nz/page/richard_swain.html New Zealand profile]
- [http://www.slstats.org/p483/Richard%20Swain.html SL stats profile]
{{Melbourne Storm squad 1999 NRL premiership}}
{{Melbourne Storm - 2000 World Club Challenge winners}}
{{Hull F.C. - 2005 Challenge Cup Final winners}}
{{New Zealand squad 2000 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{Hull FC Hall of Fame}}
{{1997 Hunter}}
{{1998 Melbourne}}
{{Cameron Smith Player of the Year Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swain, Richard}}
Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Brisbane Broncos players
Category:Hunter Mariners players
Category:Melbourne Storm players
Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England
Category:Rugby league players from Tamworth, New South Wales