Duncan Casey: Billy Holland is one of a kind in so many ways

The days of everyone expecting to play for their home club for more than a decade and go out on a high are gone. When it does happen, it's something quite special...

Billy Holland celebrates scoring a try against Scarlets last month at Thomond Park with teammates Mike Haley and Arno Botha. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

When Billy Holland announced his retirement from rugby this week, my reaction can best be described with a reference to ‘Cool Runnings’, the feelgood film about the Jamaican bobsleigh team's debut at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The most moving scene comes after the Jamaicans overturn their bobsleigh, ending their hopes of success. Defiantly, the four men insist on picking it up and carrying it to the finish line.

The onlookers begin to clap, nodding their heads in respect and ultimately cheering very loudly as the Jamaicans proudly march home. When I read that this season would be Billy's last in red, I'm sure thousands of people around the country, from all sports and none, joined me in smiling, nodding my head and saluting everything he has achieved, as he begins to make his way to the finish line.