Leeds Holmes début for
Leeds was in a
Lazenby Cup match against
Hunslet where he scored a try and kicked 10 goals. In the
1970–71 season, Holmes played in Leeds' 23–7 victory over
Featherstone Rovers in the
1970–71 Yorkshire Cup Final at
Odsal Stadium,
Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970, played fullback, and scored 2-
conversions in Leeds' 9–5 victory over
St. Helens in the
1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final at
Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970, and played in Leeds' 7–24 defeat by
Leigh in the
1970–71 Challenge Cup Final at
Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 15 May 1971, in front of a crowd of 85,514, In the
1971–72 season, Holmes played fullback in the 13–16 defeat by St. Helens in the
1971–72 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495. In the
1972–73 season, Holmes played fullback, scored 3-
tries, and was
man of the match winning the
White Rose Trophy in the 36–9 victory over
Dewsbury in the
1972–73 Yorkshire Cup Final at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 7 October 1972, and played fullback, and scored a conversion in Leeds' 12–7 victory over
Salford in the
1972–73 Player's No.6 Trophy Final at
Fartown Ground,
Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973. In the
1973–74 season, Holmes played fullback in the 7–2 victory over
Wakefield Trinity in the
1973–74 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973. In the
1974–75 season, Holmes played in Leeds' 26–11 victory over St. Helens in the
1974–75 Rugby League Premiership Final at
Central Park,
Wigan on Saturday 17 May 1975. In the
1975–76 season, Holmes played , scored 4-conversions and a
drop goal in the 15–11 victory over
Hull Kingston Rovers in the
1975–76 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1975. In the
1976–77 season, Holmes played stand-off and captained Leeds in the 16–12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the
1976–77 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 16 October 1976, and played stand-off in the 16–7 victory over
Widnes in the
1976–77 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1977, in front of a crowd of 80,871. In the
1977–78 season, Holmes played stand-off in the 14–12 victory over St. Helens in the
1977–78 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1978, in front of a crowd of 96,000. In the
1978–79 season, Holmes missed the 24–2 victory over
Bradford Northern in the
1978–79 Rugby League Premiership Final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 27 May 1979 after being called up as a late replacement for the 1979 GB Lions Tour to Australasia. In the
1979–80 season, Holmes played stand-off (replaced by
substitute Christopher Sanderson) in the 15–6 victory over
Halifax in the
1979–80 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 27 October 1979. In the
1980–81 season, Holmes played stand-off in the 8–7 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the
1980–81 Yorkshire Cup Final at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980. In the
1982–83 season, Holmes played stand-off in the 4–15 defeat by
Wigan in the
1982–83 John Player Trophy Final at
Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1983, In the
1983–84 season, Holmes played stand-off, and scored a try in the 18–10 victory over Widnes in the
1983–84 John Player Special Trophy Final at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 14 January 1984. In 1985, Holmes announced his retirement, but he returned to Headingley a year later. John Holmes'
testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1989.
International honours Holmes won
caps for
England while at Leeds in the
1975 Rugby League World Cup against Wales, France, New Zealand, and Australia, in 1977 against Wales, and France (sub), in 1978 against France (sub), and won caps for
Great Britain while at Leeds in 1971 against New Zealand, in 1972 against France (2 matches), in the
1972 Rugby League World Cup against Australia (sub), New Zealand and Australia, in the
1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, Australia, and Australia (sub), in 1978 against Australia (sub) (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), Australia (sub), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1982 against Australia. ==Death and legacy==