Brett Swords recently celebrated his 200th senior Wombats game

On April 10, the club's life member marked 200 senior games with the Mudgee Wombats, and although it wasn't something he has strived to achieve, after discovering he was just 10 games off - how could he not?

Swords began playing for the Wombats in the under 13s side, and while he moved away in the early '90s for schooling followed by a stint in Sydney, he returned to Mudgee in 2000 and played every season from 2001 up until 2012.

"I retired on 190 games in 2012 and then when COVID kicked in, we had a short season of eight games, I thought 'if I play enough games, I might make my 200'. It ended up being 199," Brett said.

"I was so close to the 200, why wouldn't I go for it?"

On the day he marked 200, Brett, who played in the 2002, 2009, 2010 and 2012 Batties premiership team, captained the reserve grade into their round one quest against the Parkes Boars.

"The 200th game was a fairytale. We were down 10-nil at half time, we scored on the bell to win 21-15," he said.

"It was a bit overwhelming actually having a presentation before the game. I will always remember that day."

In a private social media post, Swords thanked his junior coaches for whom without, he would not have developed the passion and dedication he has since established for rugby union.

"I would like to thank my junior coaches Graham Gordon, Lee Wilson, Bruce Schaefer, Bruce McGregor, Marc Minor and Ross Smith for their influence and passion for rugby, he wrote.

At this stage, 2021 will be Swords' final season.

"This will be my last season, I think my body is telling me it's time but never say never," he said.

"At the moment I've got a full-on black eye and bruised ribs but I'm still keen to play Narromine this weekend knowing we've got a bye the next week and time to recover."

The Mudgee Wombats will welcome the Shute Shield on April 24 at Glen Willow Stadium where Sydney University will face Eastwood, alongside the local grades who will battle their respective counterparts.

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