Swiel's London education

 

Swiel joined the London side as a medical joker for the injured Ben Botica and is only with the club until the end of February – but he has clearly enjoyed the experience.

 

"An injury to Ben Botica created an opportunity for me to play for a couple of months and it was too good to turn down," Swiel told MyPlayers.

 

"Playing in the UK at a high level club is a great experience, especially for my personal development.

 

"I'm here until the end of February."

 

Swiel says he has had no problem getting stuck in even with such a short contract, the Sharks man moving in with an seasoned Harlequins pro to help things along.

 

"It has been easy settling in," he added.

 

"I moved in with George Robson, who has been at Quins for 10 years and knows the club and the places around London very well.

 

"Having gone on a school exchange back when I was 16, I knew a bit about the English culture, weather and people.

 

"The weather poses different challenges to what we have back home in South Africa, but I feel I have easily adapted to the conditions when playing alongside some of England's top internationals." 

 

Swiel has been able to immerse himself with some of the games bigger players and as such he has taken everything onboard as he continues to learn his trade at flyhalf.

 

"At Quins, the flyhalf is referred to as the main game leader as he makes most of the decisions on the pitch," Swiel said.

 

"It has been great to watch the effort Nick Evans puts in when we do the analysis work of the game early on in the week.

 

"The calls I make have to go from the flyhalf to the second row at lineout time, so the on field relationship I have built up with George Robson has been great.

 

"Another player I have learnt from is Nick Easter. 

 

"He has a smart rugby brain and knows his away around the field."

 

Although Swiel has been guided by some excellent players, he has also had to face up to some other tough internationals.

 

"My toughest opponents were George North when we played Northampton, Jamie Heaslip against Leinster – Leinster also had 14 Irish internationals and Alasana Tuilagi in their squad!" He concluded.