Killian calls it quits

 

The 30-year-old made his debut for the Eastern Province Mighty Elephants in the Currie Cup in 2004 and went on to play 41 times in Super Rugby – 37 for the Lions and four for the Kings.

 

EP Rugby CEO, Charl Crous confirmed Killian’s retirement and admitted his sadness to see him retire but thanked him for his service.

 

"Michael has had a long and impressive rugby career, a large part of which he has spent with the Eastern Province. 

 

"We are very sad to see him go but understand that there comes a time in every rugby player’s career where they have to make this decision.

 

"Michael has been granted an exciting opportunity to enter into the corporate world in Nelson Mandela Bay and we wish him well with his new venture and this exciting new chapter in his life," Crous said.

 

Killian said it had been a difficult decision to make, but he had been given a once in a lifetime opportunity that he simply could not pass up.

 

"It is never an easy decision to make but it really is a great opportunity for me," he said.

 

Killian will be joining a national company that supplies industrial and residential air conditioning units as a director, and will be focusing on their Eastern Cape business operations, and will also be assisting with some of the bookkeeping aspects of the business.

 

"It’s great because I can put my degree, I studied B Com Accounts at NMMU, to good use now," he said.

 

Killian is married to his wife Sarah and has a daughter, Mia, with a second child on the way.

 

He was born in Uitenhage and attended Muir College.

 

He first played for Eastern Province in 2002, when he represented the Mighty Elephants in the U19 provincial competition.

 

He went on to play in the U21 B section the following year before making his professional debut for Eastern Province in 2004.

 

He was also part of the SA Students team from 2005 to 2007 and played in the Students Sevens World Cup in 2006.

 

Killian continued to play for EP through to 2007 before signing with the Golden Lions in 2008, where he played 58 matches for them and became a regular for the Lions Super Rugby franchise between 2008 and 2012.  

 

On 5 June 2012, Killian announced that he would rejoin the Eastern Province Kings and, despite breaking his arm in pre-season ahead of the Southern Kings debut, he went on to play 4 matches for the side.

 

Over his professional rugby career, Killian scored 85 tries, six conversions, one penalty kick and one drop goal, totalling 443 points.