Western Force's Darcy Swain couldn’t help but slip into tour guide mode as he soaks in a special 100th Super Rugby match in Canberra.
The lock was taken down memory lane as he returns to the ACT with the Force ahead of Saturday’s match at GIO Stadium.
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Swain made his name at the Brumbies, playing 76 games for the club, but it all started at Tuggeranong Vikings after getting the chance to move south to chase his dream.
That club would form the spine of one of the best Brumbies teams in the modern era, with Swain helping them to the 2018 John I Dent Cup title alongside roommates Noah Lolesio and Len Ikitau to go with local junior Ryan Lonergan.
All four would go on to play for the Wallabies, with Swain and Lonergan reuniting at Viking Park ahead of Swain’s milestone match, potentially the lock’s last in Canberra before his move to France
“We lived up the side [of the ground] and it’s nice coming back and seeing all this,” Swain remarked.
“It's nice to be back and play the Brumbies one more time before heading off.”
Ironically, an unfortunate illness led to the stars aligning and Swain bringing up the milestone back in the ACT.
“When we were about to go to Fiji, I was as crook as anything. I had influenza B and couldn't move,” he explained.
“We were all pretty crook for a while. There was a lot going around and a few stomach bugs in Fiji as well but then when I realised a couple of games ago it was going to be here, it’s just a really nice feeling to be able to do it front of a lot of family, friends and boys on the other team that I’ve played a lot of footy with as well.”
Lonergan paid tribute to Swain; the two climbing through the ranks of the Brumbies system together at the Vikings.
“We know what his game's built on, and he’s a hard worker, I think him getting 100 caps is a true credit to him as a bloke and a player,” the scrum-half said.
“Obviously, he moved over to Perth, and he's gone really well over there, so super happy for him. Really good mates with Darcy and as a friend, I'm super proud of him.”
The pleasantries will stop as soon as the two teams run out on the field on Saturday, with the Brumbies out of their mid-season slump.
"It's time for us to get back to where we were and start performing so that we can set ourselves up for the rest of the season," Lonergan said. "We're on an upward trend and we just have to make sure that we continue getting results."
