Johnson-Holmes extends stint in sky blue

Wed, Sep 25, 2019, 2:00 AM
Waratahs Media
by Waratahs Media

Already contracted until 2020, Johnson-Holmes’ contract has been upgraded and extended off the back of a strong 2019 Super Rugby campaign.

The Newcastle product has made 33 appearances for the NSW Waratahs, establishing himself as a player of the future with a meteoric rise from Australian Schoolboys to starting in the state squad.

Johnson-Holmes followed the NSW Country pathway on his journey to the NSW Waratahs, with time spent in the U20s, the NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship (NRC) as well as a trip to the 2017 Junior World Championships in Georgia.

The Dave Dennis (Elite Youth Development) Player of the Year winner in 2017, Johnson-Holmes has also tasted success in club rugby helping Sydney University secure the Shute Shield in consecutive seasons (2018 and 2019).

He has since gone onto make his international debut at senior level, becoming Wallaby number 927 in the 2019 Rugby Championship – debuting off the bench against the Springboks in Johannesburg.

NSWRU General Manager of Rugby, Tim Rapp said that Johnson-Holmes had quickly become an important member of his side’s forward pack.

“Harry has really impressed since joining the squad in 2018,” Rapp said.

“He arrived as a young player with plenty of promise after performing well in junior representative teams, and he’s worked extremely hard to entrench himself into the match day squad over the last two years.

“While only early in his career, Harry has shown he can compete with some of the best in [Vodafone] Super Rugby and he’ll be an important player for us next season.”

Johnson-Holmes was happy to have his future secured.

“I’ve been working through the pathways at NSW Rugby for a while now, stretching back to my junior days at the Wanderers in Newcastle,” Holmes said.

“To represent my home state in [Vodafone] Super Rugby has been such a privilege, working alongside some great people has been huge for my development as a player.

"I’m learning every day, it’s a great environment here at the Waratahs and to be here for another two seasons is something I’m really excited about.”

Johnson-Holmes will continue to feature in the NRC for the NSW Country Eagles.

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