Now Ye're Talking - to a retired rugby pro

Boards.ie: Mark

Our next AMA subject is Jonny Holland, a former professional rugby player with Munster who retired at 25 because of a hamstring injury. Since retiring, he has completed a post graduate degree in Applied Sports & Exercise Nutrition; is the assistant coach with Cork Constitution; and provides exercise nutrition and personal coaching, and other services.

If you'd like to find out more about his services (since it is January!), visit his website (https://www.jonnyholland10.com/). And if you have any questions, fire ahead below!

awec

Is there anything about being a professional rugby player that you don't miss?

sydthebeat

what, if any, support is there for young players who have to retire, offered from the IRFU?
is it adequate and what can fans / clubs etc do to improve it?

Tell me how

Were you always aiming to be a professional rugby player?

Who was the most "professional" player you came across?

Who was the most skilled player you played with?

LirW

How did you get to professional level? Did you start out in a local Rugby club? Were you sent to some sort of prestigious school for it?

davo2001

Is Zebo as much of a messer in real life as he appears on social media?

mighty magpie

What were the details of the hamstring injury? Did you need surgery? How long was/were the rehab period(s)? How many times did you try to make a comeback from it?

Why do you think more rugby players dont move around Ireland to get game time with different provinces? Do players put more value into being part of their own provinces squad over game time?
Jordi Murphy is moving to Ulster at the end of the season, but he seems to be one of the few willing to make the move.

Tell me how

Is the game as we know it on borrowed time give the emerging information on the damage and prevalence of concussion type injuries?
If so, how do you think it might change?

Sabre0001

Thanks for doing this! Should be an interesting read.

Who are you tipping for silverware this year in Pro 14, Europe, and AIL?

Was nutrition always important to you or was it something that you developed more of an interest in when you went pro?

And what do you think of schools / youth clubs implementing meal plans and gym routines?

What positions did you play moving up through the age grades (always love hearing about a prop who played full back or vice-versa )?

What, if anything, would you change about underage rugby, particularly at kids level (watching the minis at half-time is often a case of give the ball to the player who had the growth spurt, it seems!)?

And for a more serious/somber question, is there any support in place for players who pick up career ending injuries?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

awec wrote: »

Is there anything about being a professional rugby player that you don't miss?

Absolutely! Cold, wet training sessions. Not being selected, explaining to family and friends why you think you haven't been selected.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

sydthebeat wrote: »

what, if any, support is there for young players who have to retire, offered from the IRFU?
is it adequate and what can fans / clubs etc do to improve it?

Rugby Players Ireland, formerly IRUPA, offer some services but I think when you come out of the game you find your own way to deal with it. People deal with things differently. They could have offered more in terms of a career path/experience but Cork Con are very good on this front.

thomond2006

Hi Johnny, thanks for doing the AMA.

Following your retirement, did you find it a struggle to go to and/or watch games? Did you attempt to distance yourself from rugby for a period?

PearlJ

Is the only way to play professional rugby to play schools rugby or can you get there through club rugby?

My son has potential and wants to take it further but the schools system is completely out of our reach financially.

Tom Mann Centuria

Did you ever have a crack at Rugby League?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Do you think the IRFU should put more focus on the AIL? It will never reach the highs it used to be at, but so many of the golden era of Munster rugby (and to a lesser extent the other provinces) came through it, it seems such a shame that what is generally very entertaining rugby is very neglected. It was what I was brought up on, and have very fond memories of AIL games that had thousands of supporters as opposed to the couple of hundred at games these days

Dagenham Dave

Were there any players you dreaded going up against?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Tell me how wrote: »

Were you always aiming to be a professional rugby player?

Who was the most "professional" player you came across?

Who was the most skilled player you played with?

I don't think you play rugby as a young fella thinking I'll play professionally. The guys that do probably don't get there in my opinion. Some players were made for it, most have to work hard to get there.
Most professional - Paul O' Connell is the obvious answer but Felix Jones is up there.
Most Skilled - depends on your idea of skill but Keith Earls, Zebo, Pete O' Mahony.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

LirW wrote: »

How did you get to professional level? Did you start out in a local Rugby club? Were you sent to some sort of prestigious school for it?

Colaiste Chriost Ri certainly wasn't a prestigious rugby school, my Dad played with Douglas so I started there with my brother when I was young and enjoyed playing the game until about 16 when it started to get more serious. South Munster under 17, Munster 18s etc.

Kenny B

How far do you think you could have gone, You looked comfortable and confident as you played.

Did you see yourself as a potential International?

or where were your ambitions? - Pro 14 Regular, Euro Cup Regular, Irish International, Lions or a Pro rugby player wherever you could get it.


and Lastly would you have swapped the Red for Blue if Leinster came calling?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

davo2001 wrote: »

Is Zebo as much of a messer in real life as he appears on social media?

100% ��

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

mighty magpie wrote: »

What were the details of the hamstring injury? Did you need surgery? How long was/were the rehab period(s)? How many times did you try to make a comeback from it?

29th November 2014 - injured
8th December 2014 - Surgery
29th December 2015 - Returned to play - a few attempted come backs to training in the mean time.
I was always struggling with pain, had to sort the pain out in Pre Season 2016 but it was only getting worse. It's a long story but parts of my hamstring are unattached and too far gone to repair.

Hoof Hearted2

Hi Jonny, thanks for doing this.

My question is I was talking to a fella recently and he's raving about this diet being promoted by an ex army/marine surgeon and former all black player called Shawn Baker, have you heard about it at all? and if so what are your thoughts on it?

Thank in advance, David.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Deleted User wrote: »

Why do you think more rugby players dont move around Ireland to get game time with different provinces? Do players put more value into being part of their own provinces squad over game time?
Jordi Murphy is moving to Ulster at the end of the season, but he seems to be one of the few willing to make the move.

Pride. It's special to play with your own province. It's just a career to play somewhere else. I don't think I could have moved to another Province unless I was really struggling for rugby. Tough decision.

awec

How do you keep yourself fit? The injury must limit the exercise you can do?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA wrote: »

Pride. It's special to play with your own province. It's just a career to play somewhere else. I don't think I could have moved to another Province unless I was really struggling for rugby. Tough decision.

Thanks

Jude13

Fair play to you doing this.

How often as a pro do you get tested for PEDs? And would that differ from an international playing regularly? (and no I'm not Kimmage)

Just wondering since there seems to be a bit of noise about what some southern hemisphere (not saying us northern hemisphere residents are angels) players do recreationally.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Tell me how wrote: »

Is the game as we know it on borrowed time give the emerging information on the damage and prevalence of concussion type injuries?
If so, how do you think it might change?

I hope not. Good tackles are being punished. It's hard to only stamp out the bad tackles so I understand the cautious approach. Maybe laws against tackling around the shoulders/chest. Coaching low tackle focus.

Agent Smith

Do you have a bedside Locker?

Whats in your bedside locker?


What 1 thing would you recommend to the IRFU in encourage Kids to take up rugby opposed to GAA?

Sabre0001

So, we know that Superman wears Paul O'Connell pajamas, but what pajamas does Paul O'Connell wear?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Sabre0001 wrote: »

Thanks for doing this! Should be an interesting read.

Who are you tipping for silverware this year in Pro 14, Europe, and AIL?

Was nutrition always important to you or was it something that you developed more of an interest in when you went pro?

And what do you think of schools / youth clubs implementing meal plans and gym routines?

What positions did you play moving up through the age grades (always love hearing about a prop who played full back or vice-versa )?

What, if anything, would you change about underage rugby, particularly at kids level (watching the minis at half-time is often a case of give the ball to the player who had the growth spurt, it seems!)?

And for a more serious/somber question, is there any support in place for players who pick up career ending injuries?

That's a long one!
Leinster are looking good, unfortunately! Hopefully we can do some damage with Cork Con but catching Lansdowne will be tough.
Nutrition had to be a way of life, I was a very skinny 16-18 year old. I had to get into it but my Mom is very health conscious, something she got from her Dad.
Nutrition is an area that will keep growing and the earlier we can teach people the better.
I'm not one of those unfortunately, standard 10/15, dabbled at 12.
I'm not sure to be honest, it's hard to stop a guy from playing because he's too big or fast. We don't have the numbers for the supposed New Zealand model - playing by weight.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

No I still went to games, found it harder to not know what was going on with Munster if someone asked. The fear of being distanced from it outweighed the jealousy watching the lads perform.

errlloyd

Hi Johnny, thanks for doing this.

In that game against Leinster, April 2016 you were superb. As a Leinster fan I appreciated we were playing a guy who all the skills, and all the smarts to be a ten, even though you were relatively inexperienced at that level.

So what is it that makes an outhalf good? Control, management, skills? Did you ever seriously play anywhere else?

Tell me how

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA wrote:

No I still went to games, found it harder to not know what was going on with Munster if someone asked. The fear of being distanced from it outweighed the jealousy watching the lads perform.

That's interesting. How difficult so was it to accept retirement and move out of the group dynamic?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

PearlJ wrote: »

Is the only way to play professional rugby to play schools rugby or can you get there through club rugby?

My son has potential and wants to take it further but the schools system is completely out of our reach financially.

Don't feel the pressure to go to a school. A lot of good rugby players took the clubs route. In my opinion it makes the player hungrier and more determined to succeed. Could be the making of him in the long run.

Zzippy

Thanks for doing this Johnny.

Couple of questions: Best player you played with, at any level?

Toughest opponent/who gave you the most problems?

Finally, do players read or pay any heed to social media, online forums, press, etc? How do they deal with online bullying or unfair criticism?

Bonus question: Fancy modding the rugby forum?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

Did you ever have a crack at Rugby League?

Not sure I'm tough enough for that! Good game to watch though

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

BDJW wrote: »

Do you think the IRFU should put more focus on the AIL? It will never reach the highs it used to be at, but so many of the golden era of Munster rugby (and to a lesser extent the other provinces) came through it, it seems such a shame that what is generally very entertaining rugby is very neglected. It was what I was brought up on, and have very fond memories of AIL games that had thousands of supporters as opposed to the couple of hundred at games these days

I understand the conundrum more that most having been on either side of it. Very beneficial for players when they are allowed to play consistently, very hard to play intermittently. When you're in the academy you're trying to learn the way your province are playing, with different coaches and coaching points. And you want to play the A games that are available. But players need to learn their values in the AIL as well. I'd love to see more pros playing in the AIL, hopefully they'll be allowed to in the next season or two. (I think there are proposals for restructure).

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Dagenham Dave wrote: »

Were there any players you dreaded going up against?

Any strong, low running 12! Bundee Aki - he could step or run straight. Got a couple of bangs from him!

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Kenny B wrote: »

How far do you think you could have gone, You looked comfortable and confident as you played.

Did you see yourself as a potential International?

or where were your ambitions? - Pro 14 Regular, Euro Cup Regular, Irish International, Lions or a Pro rugby player wherever you could get it.


and Lastly would you have swapped the Red for Blue if Leinster came calling?

I looked more comfortable than I was I'd say but I was gunning for the next season. The way selections went in the November series and last June I think I'd have had a good chance. If you're not ambitious that way you'll never get there. You realise when fellas around you get opportunities that you're not far away. I didn't get to the stage to take the Lions dream seriously, but in my head I thought of it!

awec

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA wrote: »

I looked more comfortable than I was I'd say but I was gunning for the next season. The way selections went in the November series and last June I think I'd have had a good chance. If you're not ambitious that way you'll never get there. You realise when fellas around you get opportunities that you're not far away. I didn't get to the stage to take the Lions dream seriously, but in my head I thought of it!

Did you ever have conversations with Joe Schmidt? Does he actually interact with players who were at your stage of development, i.e. just breaking through into the senior team?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

No problem!
I haven't heard of it but don't listen to fad diets. Fad diets sell, for a small while. There's nothing sexy about consistency and sustainability but it's the way forward. If you need to use a diet guideline to be adherent then that's what works for you but there's nothing magic about it - they're normally just a tool to achieve a calorie deficit. I'll definitely be looking into it.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

awec wrote: »

How do you keep yourself fit? The injury must limit the exercise you can do?

It limits me alright. I love doing weights, have to stop myself from going to the gym. Running is my biggest issue but I've dabbled in some 5 a side and tag rugby ( pulled a hamstring )

dzilla

Biscuit or cake?

Kenny B

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA wrote: »

I looked more comfortable than I was I'd say but I was gunning for the next season. The way selections went in the November series and last June I think I'd have had a good chance. If you're not ambitious that way you'll never get there. You realise when fellas around you get opportunities that you're not far away. I didn't get to the stage to take the Lions dream seriously, but in my head I thought of it!

Good man, Thanks,

We saw how lucky(talented) Carberry was to be involved against NZ in Chicago and acquitted himself brilliantly, I've no doubt it would have been a toss up were you still available at the time.

Good luck for the future.

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Jude13 wrote: »

Fair play to you doing this.

How often as a pro do you get tested for PEDs? And would that differ from an international playing regularly? (and no I'm not Kimmage)

Just wondering since there seems to be a bit of noise about what some southern hemisphere (not saying us northern hemisphere residents are angels) players do recreationally.

I've never been tested, even when I was injured for a year. That's a prime time to get experimental (I clearly didn't haha). Internationals get tested a lot. The testers will come and ask for them specifically, they have to notify them when they're out of the country on holidays etc. If you're trying to take PEDs as an international it's too late.

Pac1Man

Was CTE ever a worry for you or was it ever discussed amongst your teammates?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

Agent Smith wrote: »

Do you have a bedside Locker?

Whats in your bedside locker?


What 1 thing would you recommend to the IRFU in encourage Kids to take up rugby opposed to GAA?

I do. Everything and anything. A rejection letter from the Irish under 18s. Man United "50 Fabulous Finishes" video. Sleeping mask. Books. Rubbish.

I don't know. I'd prefer to encourage kids to play everything and let them choose themselves. What would you recommend?

omb0wyn5ehpij9

What was the hardest hit you ever took? And who gave it?!

What's your opinion on foam rolling?

Lambay island

Whats your opinion on the residency rule? Also, Whats you stance of the "unwritten rule" that if you play abroad you are ruled out of Int scene e.g. Zebo?

I'm a Retired Rugby Pro, AMA

errlloyd wrote: »

Hi Johnny, thanks for doing this.

In that game against Leinster, April 2016 you were superb. As a Leinster fan I appreciated we were playing a guy who all the skills, and all the smarts to be a ten, even though you were relatively inexperienced at that level.

So what is it that makes an outhalf good? Control, management, skills? Did you ever seriously play anywhere else?

That's flattering, thanks a lot!

Game management, sometimes you have to ignore the outside backs (Zebo) and kick the ball to the corner to please your forwards. Getting that balance right - managing people!