Steve goes the extra yard


Steve Swindall can't wait for a taste of European rugby
Steve Swindall has made a big impact for the Warriors since his move from Glasgow Hawks, silencing some who questioned whether he had what it takes at pro-level.
Steve's skills were never in doubt but some observers questioned whether the flanker had the competitive edge required to move from the club scene to the pro-ranks.

As with so many Warriors, the influence of fitness coach Mark Bitcom, has helped Steve develop into a player who can impact on an entire game, rather than drifting in and out over 80 minutes.

"I'd be the first to admit that I was a bit podgy in the past," he says in today's Sunday Herald. "But it has helped me a lot having Mark on board, as he's basically given me a diet to follow. I started to eat more healthily and look after myself a bit more. Even as a back-up player last season, I could feel I was getting fitter and stronger all the time.

"It made a big difference to know that was happening. Now, I generally feel leaner and lighter, but the big difference is on the pitch. I feel I have an extra bit of pace to my game now. I can make that extra tackle, and gain that extra yard. I've lost about a stone, I think, but I've added a new dimension to my game.

"I'm a very laid-back character," he explains. "But I do apply myself and work hard at things - I do care, greatly. I don't let things faze me and maybe people read that the wrong way.

"It was a big disappointment not being selected last year (for Glasgow's Heineken Cup squad). At that stage it hadn't really sunk in, as I was still finding my feet, but as time went on I realised I could have been there. When you're training all the time alongside players you can tell how you compare. You know if you deserve to be there. Yes, it would have been nice to be in that Heineken squad.

"It's a different environment completely in Europe," he enthuses. "You get all the big names playing and the games are live on TV and people are always talking about it. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in there. It will be nice to get the big crowds that you get at places like Bath and Bourgoin. That will be a new experience for me, and I can't wait for it all to get started.

"The confidence is certainly there," he says. "There's real competition to get in the team, too, and hopefully we can get a result against Llanelli that takes us into the Heineken Cup on a high. If we can get a roll going then things could happen

This article was posted on 16-Oct-2005, 08:49 by Hugh Barrow.