‘THE door will always be open for Darren back at the Doheny GAA Club,’ his home club said this week as it paid tribute to one of its most famous sons following the end of his Oyonnax rugby chapter.

Could there yet be a sensational return to the Dohenys hurlers this summer? It seems unlikely, but if Darren Sweetnam ever picked up a hurley again, there is little doubt he would still produce moments of magic.

Sweetnam remains one of the most gifted athletes West Cork has produced. He represented Ireland at underage level in both hockey and badminton and was regarded as one of Cork’s brightest hurling talents before deciding to pursue a career in rugby. It proved an inspired choice.

The former Bandon Grammar student played 92 times for Munster, scoring 22 tries, and his performances earned him three Ireland caps. He made his international debut against South Africa in November 2017 before scoring a try against Fiji a week later.

Before Jack Crowley, Gavin Coombes and Fineen Wycherley wore the green jersey, Sweetnam had already blazed the trail for West Cork rugby.

He was the original standard-bearer.

Darren Sweetnam with his mom Kathleen.

Sweetnam’s rugby journey took him to Oyonnax Rugby in 2021 after bringing his Munster career to a close. He initially spent three months with La Rochelle under Ronan O'Gara before moving to the eastern French town of Oyonnax, close to the Swiss border.

Oyonnax became home for the past five seasons, but the 33-year-old will leave the club at the end of the current campaign.

Unsurprisingly, Sweetnam made a significant impact in France, helping Oyonnax win the Pro D2 title in 2023 and secure promotion to the Top 14.

The highly rated full-back is one of 14 players departing the club this summer when his contract expires.

Last weekend, Sweetnam was joined by family members as he bid farewell to Oyonnax after making 80 appearances across five seasons – a fitting send-off for a player who left his mark on the club.

While his headline-grabbing achievements have largely come away from West Cork in recent years, Sweetnam’s influence on the local rugby scene should not be underestimated.