Published on:
20
April 2012
Former Glasgow Warriors star, Stevie Swindall, is the new rugby development officer with Clackmannanshire Council.
Stevie said: "I have been met with a terrific response from everyone in the area. It is my aim to improve the standard of rugby and encourage children at all 19 of our primary schools and three secondary schools to take up the game."
Stevie started his illustrious rugby career at Whitecraigs Rugby Club in Glasgow, where he played while still at school.
After two years in the club's first fifteen the 6'4" blindside flanker stepped up to a higher grade with Glasgow Hawks where he was part of two Scottish Premier Division One championship winning teams, as well as winning a Scottish National Cup winners medal.
It was during this period that Stevie's outstanding abilities saw him achieve international recognition, playing for Scotland under-18's in 2000, before being capped for Scotland under-21's in both the home nations and the under-21 World Cup in 2003.
Stevie, moved into the professional ranks in 2004 and made his debut for Glasgow Warriors against Leeds Tykes and penned his first full time contract in 2005.
While at Glasgow Warriors he gained further international honours when he was capped for Scotland A in 2007 in the Churchill Cup, and played in the final of the 2008 Churchill Cup against England Saxons in Chicago.
In 2009 he signed for Rotherham Titans in the English Championship before a spell in Italy the following year as player/coach for Amatori Milano.
Stevie, 29, returned to Scotland, where is currently playing for Stirling County Rugby Club. He has also been coaching the colts team at Morrisons Academy in Crieff.
Now he has joined Clackmannanshire Council as rugby development officer where his main duties and responsibilities will be to develop the game of rugby throughout the schools and hopefully develop some more stars of the future who have emerged from this area such as Adam Ashe and Sean Kennedy.
Stevie added: "As well as the schools I have already formed an excellent working relationship with both of our clubs in the area, Alloa Rugby Club and Hillfoots, and have helped out in their coaching.."
The council's Head of Education, Belinda Greer, hailed Stevie's arrival as an exciting and outstanding addition to the thriving sports team.
She said: "We are delighted to welcome Stevie to the council's sports development team. He is an outstanding player in his own right and his knowledge and experience of the game will be invaluable in developing rugby throughout the county.
"He also has first class coaching credentials and I am sure that our schoolchildren and all young rugby enthusiasts in the county will benefit from his support and coaching."