The NSW Waratahs are proud to announce that Harry Johnson-Holmes has penned a contract extension that will keep the prop in Sky Blue at least until the end of the 2024 Super Rugby season.
The Newcastle product 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 with the Junior Wallabies.
Harry Johnson-Holmes would go on to make his Waratahs debut in 2018 and has become a cornerstone of the team’s front-row, representing his state on a further 64 occasions.
Strong form in 2019 saw Johnson-Holmes rewarded with a Wallaby Test match debut off the bench against the Springboks in Johannesburg and has been featured in Wallaby squads since, including Dave Rennie’s first Wallaby camp of the 2022 season.
The Dave Dennis (Elite Youth Development) Player of the Year winner in 2017 and Chris Whitaker Aspiring Waratah Award (Rookie of the Year) winner in 2018, Johnson-Holmes has also tasted success in club rugby helping Sydney University secure the Shute Shield in consecutive seasons (2018 and 2019).
Johnson-Holmes was happy to have his future secured in his home state.
“In the end, it was a really easy decision for me to re-sign with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia,” Johnson-Holmes said.
“NSW is obviously very special to me, and I guess in the end to be able to continue to play my part in putting the club back in the right direction was a no-brainer.
“It’s a place I really love and am incredibly proud of, and I'm surrounded by my best mates and a squad of blokes I really enjoy playing alongside. The team is heading into an exciting era, with a group of young talented footy players that I’m excited to be part of.
“Also having that World Cup just around the corner is another massive motivator to try and put my best foot forward and have a crack at getting into the Wallabies team and hopefully on a plane to France in 2023.”
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was delighted to keep the versatile prop in sky blue for a further two years.
“I’ve known Harry for a long time from our NSW Country Eagles days and he's an outstanding team man and a lot of that has to do with his humble upbringing in Newcastle,” Coleman said.
“He’s a good story for the CHS system that's gone right through the pathway and did it tough in the early part of his career, trying to make it into professional rugby, and is now reaping the rewards from his hard work and dedication to his craft.
“Harry’s versatility through his ability to play at either side of the scrum adds huge value as a team member and has a huge work ethic and an uncanny knack for scoring tries.
“Off the field, he adds as much if not more than he does on the field. He’s got an infectious jovial nature and a caring attitude to his teammates, and everyone's stoked that he's re-signed here for a few years.”
