| Billy Holland | |
| Birth Date: | 1985 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Cork, Ireland |
| Weight: | 112kg (247lb) |
| Ru Position: | Lock, Flanker |
| Amatteam1: | UCC |
| Amatteam2: | Cork Constitution |
| Years1: | 2007–2021 |
| Clubs1: | Munster |
| Apps1: | 247 |
| Points1: | 30 |
| Ru Clubupdate: | 11 June 2021 |
| Repyears1: | 2014–2015 |
| Repteam1: | Emerging Ireland |
| Repcaps1: | 5 |
| Reppoints1: | 5 |
| Repyears2: | 2016 |
| Repteam2: | Ireland |
| Repcaps2: | 1 |
| Reppoints2: | 0 |
| Ru Ntupdate: | 12 November 2016 |
| Relatives: | Jerry Holland (father) |
| School: | Christian Brothers College |
| University: | University College Cork |
Billy Holland (born 3 August 1985) is an Irish former rugby union player, who spent his entire career playing for his native province of Munster, whilst also earning a single international cap for Ireland. He played primarily as a lock, though also played flanker occasionally, and represented Cork Constitution in the All-Ireland League.
Holland made his full debut for Munster against Scarlets on 22 September 2007, having made his non-competitive debut against Saracens in a friendly on 7 September.[1] He was part of the Munster team that narrowly lost to New Zealand on 18 November 2008, in the opening game of the new Thomond Park.[2] He made his Heineken Cup debut in Munster 2009–10 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton Saints on 10 April 2010.[3] Holland started for Munster in their historic 15–6 victory over Australia on 16 November 2010.[4]
He signed a new two-year contract with Munster in March 2012.[5] Holland led Munster A to victory in the 2011–12 British and Irish Cup Final, putting in a captains performance in the 31–12 win.[6] Holland captained Munster against Dragons on 29 November 2013.[7] [8] He signed a new two-year contract with Munster in February 2014, which will see him remain with the province until at least June 2016.[9] Holland was nominated for the 2015 Munster Rugby Senior Player of the Year Award in April 2015.[10] In January 2016, Holland signed a new two-year contract with Munster.[11] He was nominated for the 2016 Munster Senior Player of the Year Award, the second successive season he was nominated.[12] On 5 May 2017, Holland was named in the 2016–17 Pro12 Dream Team.[13] Holland started Munster's first 16 games of the 2017–18 season[14] and signed a two-year contract extension with the province in January 2018.[15]
He won his 200th cap for Munster during their 2018–19 Pro14 round 13 win against Connacht on 5 January 2019, becoming just the tenth player to achieve the feat with the province.[16] [17] He signed a one-year contract extension with the province in February 2020.[18] Holland became Munster's joint-second most capped player with Ronan O'Gara on 240 caps when he captained the province to a 22–10 away win against Edinburgh in round 12 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 20 February 2021, also winning the Man-of-the-Match award.[19] He retired at the end of the 2020–21 season after 14 years with the province,[20] and was named in the 2020–21 Pro14 Dream Team in his final season.[21] Holland's final game for Munster was their 54–11 away win against Italian side Zebre in round 6 of the Pro14 Rainbow Cup on 11 June 2021.[22]
Holland had represented Ireland Schools, Ireland under 19s and Ireland under 21s. He won the IRUPA Award for Unsung Hero on 8 May 2013.[23] He started for Emerging Ireland their second 2014 IRB Nations Cup game against Uruguay on 18 June 2014, scoring a try.[24] He also started in the 31–10 victory over Romania on 22 June 2014, a win that secured the 2014 IRB Nations Cup for Emerging Ireland.[25]
Holland was added to the senior Ireland squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship game against England on 24 February 2015.[26] He was named in the Emerging Ireland squad for the 2015 World Rugby Tbilisi Cup on 19 May 2015.[27] Holland started in the opening 25–0 win against Emerging Italy on 13 June 2015.[28] Holland started in the 33–7 win against Uruguay on 17 June 2015.[29] He captained the side in the 45–12 win against Georgia on 21 June 2015, a win which secured the tournament for Emerging Ireland.[30]
On 26 October 2016, Holland was named in Ireland's squad for the 2016 end-of-year rugby union internationals.[31] On 12 November 2016, Holland made his senior Ireland debut when he started in the 52–21 win against Canada.[32] On 23 January 2017, Holland was named in the Ireland squad for the opening two rounds of the 2017 Six Nations Championship.[33] Holland was awarded the Contribution to Irish Society accolade at the Irish Rugby Players Awards in October 2020.[34]
Holland was the recipient of the 2021 Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland's Tom Rooney Award in recognition of his contribution to Irish rugby.[35]