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Damien Hoyland admits Edinburgh exit ‘not sunk in yet’
By PA
Damien Hoyland admitted it had not sunk in that he played his last home game for Edinburgh after signing off in style.
It was the perfect send-off for winger Hoyland plus head coach Mike Blair and replacement scrum-half Henry Pyrgos as Edinburgh scored five first-half tries against Ospreys.
Hoyland was handed a farewell start in the 45-21 BKT United Rugby Championship encounter on Saturday night eight days after it was announced he was leaving at the end of the season, along with the likes of Blair and Pyrgos.
Hoyland said in a club video: “It’s weird, it has not really sunk in yet.
“I have been here nine years and ever since I have been here, I have obviously been on the touchline so I have had the fans in my ear all the time, always shouting their support. The guys have continuously supported us for the last nine years.
“I can’t describe how grateful I am. It hasn’t sunk in yet but I am fortunate to have done what I have done with this club and to play with the guys. I have made so many good mates, best mates.
“It’s a strange one, it’s not sunk in, but thanks to everyone.”
Hoyland was delighted the team found their form on such an important occasion for him and others.
“It was awesome,” the 29-year-old said. “We are really happy that in our last home game of the season we won with a bit of style. We are glad we gave the fans something to cheer about.
“The energy from all the lads, playing for the fans, playing for the guys that are leaving, the energy was there in abundance.”
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Latest Comments
Yes but we don’t want to be anything like the US do we!
I think it works especially in america for those types of days. Of course the general idea is that you spend time together and although watch sport is the exact opposite I’d reckon it would probably be a net positive in the end.
Something that has or should have more meaning is another thing entirely though. Or does the day just not have that much meaning anymore either? Like having a ‘rivalry’ with the other nation you’re celebrating as team mates.. well hello? Maybe it’s a good day for the All Blacks v Kangaroos game? Transtasman version of the black clash?
Go to commentsYou’re welcome and sorry for the late reply.
I think so. More money is always good and compared to other T2 Federations, although things aren’t perfect, the Romanian Rugby Federation did a good job managing it’s budget.
I think I saw T2Rugby tweeting that out of T2 nations funding around half goes to the 3 Pacific Islands which might be a bit of a waste considering how much coruption there is inside those Federations.
It was a major blow for the local championship and the level of the local competition.
This was fixed in 2011 when the Superliga was created - a professional league with 8 teams. I think it had 10 in it’s peak. Having a pro league for a T2 nation is really good but now the issue is there are only 6 teams which means you don’t have a lot of matches during a season. It would’ve been great if there would be again 8 or 10 teams but I don’t see that happening any time soon.
However, for the national side, this exodus was really good. Even now we get benefits from it, although we don’t have as many players abroad, because kids of those players are playing at a higher intensity level in France - ex. Gontineac, Mitu.
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