MUNSTER Rugby said it was with great sadness it learnt of the untimely weekend passing of the club’s two-time Heineken European Cup winning manager Jerry Holland at the age of 66 following an illness.
It said: “A legend of rugby in Munster, Jerry excelled as a player, coach, team manager and administrator.”
As a player, Holland represented UCC, Cork Constitution and Munster over a long career in which he also earned three senior international caps.
He played a pivotal role for Munster in the transition from amateur to professional rugby, and around this time was Head Coach to two inter-provincial championship winning teams. It was Holland who took charge of Munster in the early days of the Heineken Cup, with the side unbeaten at both Thomond Park and Musgrave Park, during his watch.
In 2000, Holland was appointed Team Manager and during this stint the province were winners of Europe in 2006, and again two years later.
For the past 12 years, he was the Director of Rugby at Cork Constitution, and also served as club President.
A statement from Munster Rugby added: “Our thoughts are with Jerry’s family and friends at this time. Jerry was the dearly loved father of Billy, Paula and Joe and loving brother of Margaret, Eddie, Anne and Claire and adored grandad of Ava, Matthew, Alex, Seán and the late darling Emmeline. He will be sadly missed by his loving family and friends, especially Lanlih, Ciarán, Alyssa and Rhona.”
