By Jon Geddes

THE day after again pulling on the jumper of his beloved Southern Districts against Randwick in the Shute Shield, Wallaby and Waratah hardman Jed Holloway was at Forshaw Park on Sunday running the water for their first grade Colts side.

While he is set to continue his rugby journey overseas, the tough and uncompromising forward was back with the club which means so much to him on the weekend.

It would have been easy for Holloway to put his feet up after the Waratahs’ tough Super season, but that is not in his character and the opportunity to represent Souths is something he does with pride.

“I just love this club, the people who are involved with the club and what the club is about, ” Holloway told Rugby News at his spiritual home, Forshaw Rugby Park.

“It is just a place that I really cherish and I’ve had it in my head to end my career in Australia the way it started.”

Holloway grew up in Yamba and his father played for Port Hacking. After school he came down to Sydney and played for Souths Colts before moving up to the grade ranks and graduating into rep footy.

“It’s been a big part of my journey and I will never forget that and always want to give back to it,” he said.

“I care about the club and the direction it is going and to see the results in the last few years has been tough – so I want to go down and help out and try to change it.

“We are finding our feet ago again and I think going in the right direction.”

IT’S “PURE RUGBY”  

HOLLOWAY got off a flight from America last Wednesday, attended training on Thursday to try and run off the jetlag and played for 30 minutes in the heavy conditions on Saturday.

The 47-3 loss to a hot Randwick outfit, which included another Super star Kurtley Beale, was not the return Holloway was hoping for.

But after all the dramas at the Waratahs this season, Holloway relished the opportunity to get back to playing rugby for rugby’s sake

“Club rugby in Sydney is probably the most pure form of rugby we have,” he said. “You have the tribalism, the competiveness – everyone wants to represent their club – and you have third and fourth graders on a hill drinking beer.

“To me, that is what it is about and that is what I was really excited about. It was coming down here and just enjoying footy again.”

AN EXCITING NEW CHALLENGE     

HOLLOWAY’S impending departure will be a big loss for Australian rugby because he is a player who never took a backwards step and added steel to any pack he was a part of.

He also gets what makes rugby such a special and unique game.   

And he will depart with a tinge of sadness.

“It’s tough, obviously it has been a massive part of my life for the past 12 years – Waratahs, Souths and Australian rugby,” Holloway said.

“And I’ll never stop supporting the Tahs and the Wallabies.”

But he said it feels like the right time to go.

 “I’m very happy to have achieved what I have in my  career,” her said.

That has included over 100 games for the Waratahs, 15 Tests and over 90 games for Souths.           

Holloway’s next destination is yet to be finalised, with the main options being the US and France

“It’s a new challenge which is nerve-wracking but I am excited for it,” he said.

“I’m really happy they have allowed me to go out on my terms, as opposed to linger here when my contract is up, want to stay and I am not wanted.”

HE’LL BE BACK 

WHEN he finally hangs up his boots, Holloway has ambitions to return home and take on a new role at Souths.

Throughout this season Holloway has been mentored by Joe Barakat, one of  the most knowledgeable and experienced rugby coaches in Australia, who is currently in charge of Souths.

“I’ve made it clear to him that I want to get some expertise in coaching and Joe has been really helpful in that journey,” Holloway said.

“The goal is to get some experience coaching overseas and down the track come and coach Souths,” he said.

And wouldn’t any club love a future that included someone like Holloway.