The NSW Waratahs are proud to announce that lock Jed Holloway has re-committed to the side, keeping him in sky blue at least until the end of the 2023 season.
Hailing from the North Coast, Holloway played his junior football with the Yamba Buccaneers and came through the NSW development pathways playing for Southern Districts in the Shute Shield and the Rams in the NRC while also representing Australia at the Schoolboy and U/20s level.
Returning home to NSW from Toyota Verblitz in Japan, Holloway has made an instant impact on the Waratahs and their resurgence in Super Rugby Pacific and has extended his deal with the team for a further season.
Holloway’s leadership and dominant form in the Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific competition have seen him awarded the captaincy for the Waratahs in Jake Gordon’s absence and inclusion in Dave Rennie’s first Wallaby camp of the season.
Holloway was grateful for the chance to extend his time in his home state and is proud of the development of the team this season.
“For me, it was a no-brainer, I think the development I’ve shown coming back in DC’s (Darren Coleman) system and the culture that he’s built around the place was something that was too good to turn down,” Holloway said.
“My time abroad was a good lesson for me, I learned a lot about what type of player and teammate I want to be, and the direction I want to take my career.
“My family loves Sydney, I’m a proud New South Welshman, and I love this club and my time here is something that I really cherish.
“To see the direction and potential of where the team is going is something I want to be a part of and to be there at the start line of all of that, I think it would be a silly decision to choose to go anywhere else.”
NSW Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman was excited to lock in the services of one of the standout players in Super Rugby Pacific.
“Sometimes life is about keeping an open mind and rugby is full of really good redemption stories,” Coleman said.
“Jed by his own admission didn’t leave here on the greatest of notes and even personally, the last time I coached Jed we didn’t finish the season with the best of relationships.
“How Jed has come back into this group and what he’s contributed and what he’ll continue to contribute for us we can’t put a value on. He’s been an amazing man, mentor, and leader, and one of the single most important factors in our turnaround this season.
“I usually don’t give advice to the Wallaby coaching staff but Jed Holloway needs to become a Wallaby this year, that’s how good he’s been.”
