As captain of the United States Eagles, Swords may command attention with his Himalayan presence, but this gentle giant prefers to lead by example rather than words.

The business administration student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is economical with what his says to his team-mates. He would rather use two or three words when other players would prefer to ramble on for much longer.

"Kevin is not a rah-rah, vocal type of leader,'' said Eagles manager Ed Schram during the team's morning practice at Police Recreation Field yesterday. "He leads by example. There's just the occasional words here or there. Basically it's just `let's crank it up, let's focus, let's get more organised.' "He most assuredly does not have the personality that would to mind quickly when you think of a captain. I mean, he has all the right qualities, don't get me wrong, but there are other people who can be a little more vocal or a little more articulate.

"But he brings a vast amount of experience and a great deal of leadership.'' Said Swords: "I don't mean to be too imposing or whatever. The group right now is very close, and close to the management. Here everybody's on the same page. There's not nearly as much difficulty or responsibility in being captain as some people might think.'' As the Eagles turned the intensity of their workouts up a notch yesterday under a bright, sunny sky, Swords, 33, smiled as head coach Jack Clark bellowed encouraging words to his captain during a running drill where players slammed their bodies into a thick tackling block.

"Atta boy, Kevin,'' shouted Clark. "Nice tempo, that's better.'' Swords, with the most caps of any player -- 32 -- on the US squad, brings a tempo that is suddenly well suited to a team that is young and fairly inexperienced in international play.

He seized the captain's mantle from Brian Vizard, who was on the US squad during last fall's World Rugby Classic, at the 1991 World Cup in Italy after Vizard was injured.

"But even before that,'' said Schram, "during a training session, the forwards were having some scrummage work and it wasn't going too well for us, and Kevin pulled the guys off to the side, got them all together and talked to them.'' Swords developed his quiet, unassuming manner while he was in the Air Force, but it was also during that time he began to devote more time to rugby.

"I just got such a big kick out of playing,'' said Swords. "I was in the Air Force, stationed in a new city, and I didn't know anybody down there. It was a great way to get out and socialise and meet a whole different group of people.'' The desire to play rugby came at a young age, however, since three of his brothers, Brian, Brendan and John, also played the game. Brian even secured three Eagle XV caps and was a team-mate of current head coach Clark.

"My older brother, Brian, he's the most difficult guy I ever played against,'' said Swords. "I couldn't bully him. He'd just say something from up high and I'd think, `Oh my god, what am I going to do? He's my big brother I can't threaten him, he knows too much. He'd just hurt me right back.'' It is difficult to imagine the 245-pound athlete being unable to defend himself against his brother.

The Eagles inflicted some punishment on each other yesterday as three players, Sean Allen, Chris O'Brien and Chris Lippert were injured during the morning training session. All three players, however, quickly returned to the pitch.

"We've got a good, young crew now so everbody's really excited about playing,'' said Swords. "In the last couple of years we've had a big transition and there's a few players still leftover from my age...there's even some very old ones like (centre) Mark Williams. You might want to mention how old Mark is,'' he said, laughing.

Williams, with 19 caps of his own, is actually a year younger than Swords, but all the veterans, including Tom Billups, O'Brien and Lippert, are being counted on heavily for their leadership.

"Some of us older guys are supposed to show them how to play at this level, trying to help them be a little bit calm and all that sort of stuff. We got some younger guys who are itching to go, so it's just trying to rein people in a bit.'' Forget the slew of awards he has garnered playing rugby, it is playing for his country that Swords considers his biggest achievement. Wearing his blue territories union jersey along with white shorts and maroon socks yesterday, Swords would appear to be much more at home in red, white and blue.

"I guess I do bleed a little American,'' he said.

"I think Kevin feels it's a great duty and responsibility to represent his country,'' said Schram. "He talks about honour, duty and responsibility, those kinds of things.

"He's a very serious, thoughtful guy, besides the fact that he plays in a very explosive, aggressive and sometimes violent sport.

"All those qualities evoke in your team-mates a great deal of respect.

There's some comfort in knowing that Kevin Swords in lining up with you on the field. There's respect for all that Kevin has done for US rugby.'' Swords remains captain of the US Air Force squad and plays for Beacon Hill in his native Boston.

He also appeared in Sports Illustrated last year as the Old Spice athlete of the month.

But it is not the scent of stardom that drives the second row player.

"You play this game for the best of reasons, for your team and for yourself.

You don't make any money, but here I am in Bermuda, when I could be in Boston right now, in the middle of winter dragging myself into the gym with the snow on the ground.'' When it comes to crunch time, Swords brings to the Eagles expertise in the lineout, and his mobility in rucks and mauls. That will be his major role against Bermuda on Saturday in the World Cup qualifier.

KEVIN SWORDS -- "Everyone is on the same page.''