IRISH RUGBY HAS lost another talented, young player to early retirement as Munster today confirmed that Johnny Holland’s playing days are over.
The out-half has been battling with an ongoing hamstring problem initially picked up during a Munster ‘A’ game against Nottingham in November 2014.
Holland, a Munster Rugby graduate who also represented Douglas, Sundays Well, UCC and Cork Constitution as a youngster, recovered to play seven times for the province last season and scored his first competitive try against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
However, on the week of his 25th birthday, the Cork native has been advised to call time on his career by medical staff after making a total of 11 senior appearances since his debut three years ago.
“This has obviously been a very tough time for me, and ultimately it is a decision that has been taken out of my hands,” Holland told Munster Rugby.
“It is something that I have tried very hard to overcome but unfortunately it has become impossible for me to win this battle. As much as this is beyond my control, I don’t want to look back on my career with any sadness.”
“Rugby has given me so many opportunities and I have learned so much from the experience, with fantastic memories and friends for life. I am very proud to have represented my home province, especially at the end of last season, and am thankful for the support from underage rugby all the way up.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the medical team, strength and conditioning staff and coaches that helped me throughout my career, and special thanks must go to my family, girlfriend Chloe and close friends for their unwavering support.
“I believe this is an exciting time for Munster Rugby and while I am hugely disappointed that my time has come to an end I look forward to supporting from the stands, and to the next chapter.”
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I think we are cursed at present, the end of the last season he showed real promise and ability, its sad for the player as individual foremost and the club, All the best on what every you do next Johnny.
Absolutely gutted for the lad. 25 is way, way too young to be retiring at. He was such a crucial part of Munster getting their act together and securing Champions Cup rugby for this season, it should always be remembered that in a really dark hour for Munster he really stood up for us. I also remember reading at the end of last season that Joe had talked to him about maybe being involved with Ireland in the future. I can’t imagine what having all those possibilities snatched away from you in such a cruel manner must be like, especially when it had taken him so much time and effort to break through in the first place. So cheers to a guy whose brief but memorable rugby career did much for Munster, and won’t easily be forgotten. Thanks Johnny.
Terrible shame for the guy, looked to be a serious prospect.
Murphy, Dowling, McSharry – all gone long before their time.
Gutting
At 25. Sickening.
I love rugby, but we’re reading these stories too often lately.
The question for the conditioning coaches is “Why are there so many players suffering from serious ham string injuries”?.Healy ripped his ham string from the bone walking onto the training field. PO’C had to retire after ripping his,SO’B had to have surgery on his, Henderson likewise,Rob Kearney has ongoing issues with his. As well as these injuries there is a plethora of other injuries from cruciates to AC joints to quads to ankles etc. The legendary Con Houlihan once said that when he was young ham strings were things you found in your lunch.His point being that athletes did not suffer very many ham string before the advent of professional rugby. it is my belief that excessive weight training is weakening the tissues that support tendons ,ham strings etc.
Would have to agree.
Players are too big. Each body type has an optimal amount of muscle mass it can support. Keith Earls said in an interview recently that he got over his injury woes by dropping 4 kgs of muscle mass. New Zealand, who are about 5 years ahead of everyone have moved away from excessive bulking. The 2015 New Zealand World Cup winning team were noticeably smaller than their predecessors form the last 2 world cups.
The Welsh squad came to the same conclusion. The body isn’t designed to carry the extra weight. The body breaks down. Keith Earle figured out the same after going back down to his natural weight. The issue remains though about the almost disposable conveyor belt of south sea islanders who are used as battering rams by clubs in Europe and dumped when banjaxed. It would be good to hear IRUPA s opinion on this topic. Maybe 42 could organize an interview article.
I doubt the weight training is “weakening” the connective tissues, Tom. Rather I believe the weight training is making the muscles too heavy for the connective tissues. Besides the injuries you mention, there have been a number of pectoral muscle injuries in English rugby in recent times. I believe that this to is due to over-heavy muscles. So you work on your strength in the gym but does the programme include specific exercises to strengthen the tendons and ligaments? Like many fans I was very struck by Keith Earls’s comments about his weight and muscle mass and the injury problems he has had over the past few seasons. I think a major review of the whole injury question in professional rugby is required. We have had a huge awareness campaign over head injuries, we now need the same for soft tissue injuries – over to you, IRFU. Professional rugby had now been around long enough for a body of evidence to be trawled for a total review and a renewed consideration for player welfare, and dare I say it for fans’ continued support and enjoyment.
Thanks, Johnny for you contribution over the years, especially the latter part of last season. Yours was a bright light shining in what had been a dark time for the men in red and their supporters. I wish you all the best in your future wherever it may take you.
Olive you may be correct in your opinion. However I an not an expert on weight training but I believe that there is a correlation between non contact injuries and gym practices.
Tom, we are agreeing with each other. Out of curiosity I did a search on “strengthening tendons and ligaments”. This took me to body-building sites!! But I was interested that they did say the tendons and ligaments would strengthen naturally as one built up their muscles – provided this was not done using anabolic steroids (using steroids increased muscle mass, but did not strengthen the connective tissues). However it also said that a body builder should do very specific exercises to build up the tendons and ligaments.
Holland doesn’t look to b carrying that much bulk.
Absolutely terrible news..the young lad must be gutted..huge talent..best of luck in the future young man
Was showing great promise in the red jersey. Another career ended far too early.
Devastating for a clearly talented player. He had a brilliant game against us in April and his withdrawl for Keatley could’ve swung it our way as he kicked some very good performances penalties that evening. Big loss.
Keatley will need to step up to the plate. Hopefully the fans get behind him!
Nice try but a BS comment.
Why is it BS? Keatly does need to improve.
Twas the second bit..
Ah your back with bs comments
Jesus, how I’ve missed that greasy face of your Robert.
Great comment .. how can I double like it
What’s a plate got to do with it?
Maybe. 2 seasons ago.
PScald,
I’m very flattered but I’ve told you before, I’m not interested!
Best of luck for the new season
my good man
Tough on Holland. The start of the season and the cupboard is looking bare for Munster already.
Not necessarily. Bleyendaal and Keatley are fit right now, Johnston will be back soonish and if that’s not enough, well we could call up Tomás Quinlan who has completed his academy course. It’s not ideal, and I really hoped that Holland would be our starting 10, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster.
I was really hoping that the article out last week was premature. Im gutted that it wasn’t. Devastating for the fella, I hope his plan works out post rugby and thanks for everything Johnny.
Hardly the time and place for interprovincial point-scoring is it Robert? Grow up.
Sickening to hear. Looked like a real asset.
Yet again the beauty of Ireland’s conditioning of its players thats injury number infinity and we are only in pre season…Atleast Munster have another promising Fly Half in Bill Johnston…oh wait…he’s also injured.
I wish him all the best for the future in whatever career he decides to pursue.
Genuinely disgusted for holland and after fighting so hard to get back and play some really great stuff at the tail end of last season. Just hope he’ll be ok and a success at whatever he chooses to do after rugby.
Keatley has shown on his day (Winter/Spring 2015 anyone) that he can do it and do it well, but by god when he has a bad game or two his confidence drops make him virtually unplayable. Munster really need consistency from him or Tyler this year. It could be the make or breaking of them.
Too many career ending injuries and not caused by big hits from opponents so there’s something fundamentally wrong
somewhere.
Hard way to finish a career but I hope they have an insurance cover so he can take his time in building a new way forward for himself.
Heard last weekend this was coming, very similar injury as Paulie by all accounts… As in ripped the hamstring off the bone. An absolute disaster for Munster, feel so sorry for the lad
Guys getting too big. Full of protein shakes etc. back and joints fecked for life .
Rugby players routinely suffering injuries previously only seen in car crashes
Can anyone here with sons and who played rugby themselves honestly recommend it as a sport anymore
Yes I can. Most players don’t suffer such injuries. It’s needs analysis. I agree with others. Poor unbalanced gym practices and training may be to blame as well as the way we play the game in the northern hemisphere.