Professional career As part of his South African academy development with the RPC Rugby Performance Centre, Holmes trained with
Toulon and for
Western Province in the
Currie Cup and
Vodacom Cup, as well as the
Griquas and
Cornish Pirates. Holmes helped Western Province win the Vodacom Cup for the first time in 2012, he made nine appearances and scored two tries. He also played his first
Super Rugby game later in the season. As a result of a loose forward injury crisis, Holmes debuted against the
Lions on 30 June 2012. He started the game in the number 6 jersey and was replaced in the 52nd minute by
Tiaan Liebenberg in a 27–17 Stormers win. After the
2012 Currie Cup Premier Division season, he joined Italian
National Championship of Excellence team
Petrarca Rugby for one season. Holmes then moved to
Glasgow Warriors for the start of season 2013–14. He was part of the Glasgow side's 2014–2015
Pro12 league championship winning season. Following his release from Glasgow, Holmes signed for
Newcastle Falcons in the
Aviva Premiership from the 2016–17 season.
International career Holmes is eligible to play for Scotland as his father was Scottish. His grandfather played for
Peebles RFC. He was named in the
Scotland A squad for their match against
England Saxons on 31 January 2014, helping them to a 13–13 draw. This confirmed his Scottish nationality under World Rugby rules. The flanker received his first cap for the full Scotland national side against South Africa on 29 June 2014.
Coaching career On 25 July 2017 it was announced that Holmes would begin a new role as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at
Stade Niçois in France. Holmes is now the Performance Coach of the Glasgow campus of the
Scottish Rugby Academy. ==References==