Darcy makes mum proud
FAITH, family and a hardworking single mum have helped Cairns junior Darcy Swain live out his childhood dream, making his Super Rugby debut for the ACT Brumbies at the weekend.
Swain, 20, came off the bench for the Brumbies in their 25-20 loss to Jaguares in Canberra on Sunday afternoon, playing just over 20 minutes of game time.
The rising star’s mum, Susana Lesa-Taimua, said the tears started to well as she saw her 200cm son take the GIO Stadium field in front of more 8000 screaming fans.
“Darcy said ‘Don’t cry mum,’ but I did. I shed a few tears. I feel very thankful,” the single mother of six said.
“He’s a local boy that started with Edmonton Storm playing rugby league, where I coached him as a junior.
“All I could say was ‘Thank you, God.’ None of these things we expected.”
The former Balaclava State School teacher’s aide said she made sure Swain earned everything he got on the footy field.
“As their coach, I never gave Darcy or his brothers any awards or trophies,” she said.
“I always used to say to them ‘one day someone will give you a trophy but it won’t be your mum’.”
The JCU Mariners junior attended Bentley Park College before receiving a scholarship to attend Brisbane Boys College.
“Darcy is very humble. He always used to achieve things academically, too,” Lesa-Taimua said. “He hates when I post things about him on Facebook but I love him and as a mother I’m so proud of him.”