DARREN SWEETNAM HAS already reached lofty heights in his sporting career.
As a hurler, the Dohenys clubman represented Cork at senior inter-county level before making the decision to concentrate on rugby — signing for Munster’s academy in 2012.
Since then, the talented wing has developed into an exciting player for the province, and impressed Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt enough to earn an international debut in the win over South Africa this time last year.
Away from the pitch, Sweetnam’s other passion lies in aviation and he has been pursuing a boyhood dream to become a qualified pilot of late.
Having studied Business and Recreational Leisure at Cork Institute of Technology, the 25-year-old is one of 12 lucky recipients to take advantage of a new partnership between stockbrokers Goodbody and Rugby Players Ireland, which has seen a bursary set up to “aid the development and progression of rugby players’ off-field careers and academic studies”.
I always had a big interest in flying,” says Sweetnam, who has been training at the Atlantic Flight Training Academy in Cork. “Even going away on holidays with my family, being on the plane – I was always fascinated at how it works and I always thought it was cool to be soaring across the sky, thousands of feet up off the ground.
“So then I started to do a few lessons. The goal now is to get to 45 hours up in the air and then do a test to try to pass my pilot licence. After that, I’ll hopefully go to do my exams for the commercial pilot licence.”
Still yet to reach his peak, Darren has plenty more to achieve in rugby but understands that top-level careers are notoriously short. With one eye on his post-playing days, the Cork native aims to acquire a Private Pilot Licence and, ultimately, his Commercial Pilot Licence.
I know that although working as a professional rugby player is an exciting and fortunate career to have, it certainly won’t be something I can maintain until retirement age,” he adds.
“Becoming a pilot has always been one of my life-long dreams and thanks to the Goodbody Rugby Players Ireland Personal Development Bursary, I am going to be able to continue to pursue my dream.”
- Darren Sweetnam is one of 12 recipients to have been awarded the Goodbody Rugby Players Ireland Personal Development Bursary – four senior mens players, four players from the womens programme and four academy players
