The leader of the pack: Billy Holland - the ultimate players' player at Munster for over a decade

Billy Holland celebrates scoring a try against Scarlets earlier this year. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

There have been few constants in a turbulent few seasons for Munster rugby, but lineout leader Billy Holland is one such. At 35 and with over 230 caps behind him, the Cork man is in the final stages of a blue-collar pro career – but he’s slow to walk away just yet with a reinvigorated playing group ready for lift-off.  He spoke to Donal Lenihan

It seemed entirely fitting that his 231st cap - leapfrogging Peter Stringer into third place on the all-time list of Munster appearances behind Ronan O’Gara (240) and Donncha O’Callaghan (268) - came on a wet and windy Monday night in Scotstoun, far away from the home comforts of Thomond Park.