Gallipoli war hero like no other Blair Swannell honoured by Northampton Saints

There are charismatic rugby players, heroes of various hues, valiant, bold, passionate, fierce, larrikin-like, tough, multi-faceted, leaders of men – and then there is Blair Swannell.

Think Martin Johnson, Sean Fitzpatrick, Willie John McBride, and then factor in several more layers of raw courage and worldly wise experience.

A dual international, for the British Lions and then for Australia, soldier, sailor, gold-prospector, adventurer, teacher; thousands of Northampton fans in the record crowd at StadiumMK for Saturday’s match against Saracens will respond to the exploits of one of th…