XEROX Golden Lions stalwart, Alwyn Hollenbach (30) had to hang up his boots ahead of the culmination of the Absa Currie Cup season. He has been forced to retire from rugby with immediate effect due to a recurring shoulder injury.
Hollenbach joined the Lions rugby family in 2009 and has since represented the union 37 times in the Currie Cup, 24 times in Super Rugby and 19 times in the Vodacom Cup.
The centre has been struggling with the same shoulder injury and in 2014 it worsened in a Super Rugby match against the Brumbies. It is the same shoulder that Hollenbach injured this year in a Currie Cup match against the Pumas.
“It is not a decision that I had any control over and I still had plans to play in France for two years. But one can’t plan these things. I was blessed with a long rugby career with lots of highs, like the four Currie Cup finals that I played in and won. But the last Currie Cup win with the Lions is definitely a highlight in my career,” said Hollenbach.
He thanked his family for their unwavering support as well as the Golden Lions coaching staff, whom he describes as “amazing, sincere people who were always there for me, on and off the field”.
Coach Johan Ackermann was saddened by the news of Hollenbachs’ retirement. “I want to thank him for his contribution to Lions rugby over the last couple of years. He was a leader on the field who showed great character and a true team spirit. I want to thank him for his support of me these last two and a half years and for staying with the Lions during the tough times. I wish him well with his endeavors and know he will make a success of it,” Ackermann said.
