Leicester Tigers release Jonah Holmes, immediately confirm signing of Scottish International centre Matt Scott
Leicester Tigers have released Jonah Holmes from the final year of his contract with the club, and just minutes later announced the signing of international centre Matt Scott.
27-year-old Holmes has made 45 appearances during his three seasons in Leicester since his club debut in November 2017.
Holmes joined Tigers from Championship club Yorkshire Carnegie ahead of the 2017/18 season after stints with London Wasps and London Welsh.
During his second season at Tigers, Holmes was called up to the Wales squad by Warren Gatland and has made three Test appearances since his debut against Tonga in the 2018 autumn internationals.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy thanked Holmes for his contribution to the club over the past three seasons.
“We thank Jonah for what he has given to Tigers, on and off the pitch, during his three seasons with us in Leicester and we wish him all the best ahead of his next chapter,” said Murphy.
“His progression in Leicester, since arriving from the Championship, to international has been well earned and, at his request, we have chosen not to stand in the way of Jonah’s move to Wales to further his Test career.”
The Director of Rugby in-waiting added that the departure of Holmes presented an opportunity for young outside-backs to put their hands up for selection.
“We are confident in the exciting crop of youngsters making their way up the ranks at the club to kick on and stake their claim in the senior group, alongside the current outside-backs we have as well as the additions we will be making in that area,” added Murphy.
“The make-up of a squad is a balancing act and we are focused on ensuring we have a well-rounded squad, across all positions, of players committed to the journey we are on at Tigers.”
Holmes added: “I want to thank the club and supporters for everything during my time at Tigers, I have enjoyed the opportunity to represent Leicester.
“The decision was not one I took lightly and, while I will miss representing Leicester Tigers, I am excited for what is ahead for me in my next chapter.”
Meanwhile Tigers have agreed terms with Scotland international Matt Scott, who will join the club ahead of the 2020/21 season.
The centre made his professional rugby debut in 2011 as an Elite Development Player at Edinburgh, after a decorated age-grade career including appearances for Scotland at Under-19 and Under-20 levels.
At just 21, Scott was included in the Scotland ‘A’ squad before – only a month later – he was called up to the national squad and made his Test debut against Ireland in Dublin.
During the next five seasons, the Dunfermline-born Scott made 39 appearances for the national side including four at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
In his first stint at Edinburgh, Scott made more than 60 appearances before linking up with Gloucester in 2016 for two seasons and then, in 2018, returning to Edinburgh.
Speaking about the addition of the international midfielder, Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy said: “Matt is an experienced international who will add vital depth to our squad from next season.
“His knowledge of the Premiership and English game is another positive element, as well as what we know he is capable of on the pitch and compliments the talented group we have at the club.
“Matt is the type of player we feel will fit in well in Leicester on the pitch with his tough, hard-working style and a strong, good character who will add to our club off the pitch as well, which is in important to what we are building at Tigers.”
The 29-year-old, Scott, added: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Tigers. It is one of the biggest club’s in Europe and an institution of English rugby.
“It’s a team I watched growing up, winning a lot, and if someone told me as a teenager that I would play for Tigers, I wouldn’t have believed them.”
Scott also pointed towards the faith he had in the club improving on recent seasons with the right people in place at Tigers.
“I think looking at the quality of the team and the guys who have committed to staying and those who are arriving next season was a big draw for me,” he said.
“It will take hard work and tough people to get back up, but I have no doubt the right players and staff are at Tigers to do it.”
Scott is the second international to join Leicester’s backline stocks ahead of the 2020/21 season after it was confirmed that Nemani Nadolo will move from France to Welford Road in the summer.
And Murphy said there would be more to come, specifically in the outside backs following the release of Jonah Holmes.
“We are not done just yet in the recruitment space and still have additions to announce ahead of next season,” added Murphy.
“Jonah’s departure not only offers opportunities for members of our squad we are confident can make the step up now but also spaces in the outside backs to fill with exciting, new additions to Tigers.”
Tigers will also welcome Steve Borthwick to the club in the role of head coach from July 1, with Murphy becoming director of rugby.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments