The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade and method for forming the rotor blade. The rotor blade includes a platform having a bottom side radially spaced from a top side and a leading edge portion axially spaced from a trailing edge portion. An airfoil extends radially outwardly from the top side of the platform and a shank extends radially inwardly from the bottom side of the platform. The shank includes a lip that extends axially outwardly from a forward wall of the shank. The lip defines a radially inward surface and a radially outward surface and a plurality of slots. Swirler vane inserts are disposed within respective slots of the plurality of slots. Each swirler vane insert extends radially inwardly from the inward surface of the lip and axially outwardly from the forward wall of the shank.