Kitchen call cooks up international bow for Leicester star Holmes
PICTURE the scene, Jonah Holmes is in his kitchen going about his daily routine, writes ROB LLOYD.
His mobile phone rings, but the 26-year-old doesn’t recognise the number.
“Hi Jonah, it’s Warren Gatland, quick question, have you got Welsh blood in you?”
The player swiftly answers in the affirmative.
“Do you want to play Wales?”
No guesses what the response to that one was.
It is a conversation that will live long in the memory of the Stockport-born speedster.
“It came out of the blue,” recalled Holmes, speaking to the media ahead of his first Wales cap against Tonga at the Principality Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
“I didn’t have his (Gatland’s) number, I was going to block it to be honest!” he joked.
“I was in the kitchen and the next thing you know I am pacing around outside.
“I am very proud of having Welsh blood, my grandmother (Rachel Jenkins) came from Cwmllynfell.
“Unfortunately, she passed away a couple of years ago. It would have been great if she was here to come on Saturday.
“But, of course, I will be thinking of her.
“She always used to cry when Wales were playing on the TV.”
The reality is, apart from the Jenkins family of Cwmllynfell, the vast majority of Welsh supporters wouldn’t have heard of the Leicester Tigers flyer prior to his shock inclusion in Gatland’s autumn squad.
But the Wales option isn’t something that has suddenly emerged from nowhere.
“When I started playing professional rugby and I left school to go to Wasps, Wales Under-20s was my first option,” explained Holmes, who completed a degree for in biomedicine during his studies at the University of London.
“But it didn’t come about and I wasn’t allowed to go.
“Since then there’s been talk about coming over to the regions (he was in talks with the Scarlets) and maybe trying to get involved with the Sevens but nothing came about.
“Now, finally this opportunity has come about and I’m thrilled.”
Holmes, one of 14 changes to the team that beat Australia last weekend, has quickly built a reputation in the East Midlands as an electric runner with an eye for the try-line and has touched down 10 times in 15 appearances for the Tigers since his move from Yorkshire Carnegie in 2017.
He recently agreed a new deal with the English giants, so the regions will have to wait a few more years before he becomes available.
So, how has he enjoyed his first taste of Wales’ international setup?
“To be honest, I think rugby is the same pretty much everywhere. I guess it goes without saying the pressure to execute is higher at this level, but otherwise it’s quite similar to the Tigers,” he added.
“I haven’t played at the (Principality) stadium before, the first time I was there was three weeks ago when we did the commercial training session.
“I know this will be louder than other stadiums I have played in, but with most stadiums by the end of the warm-up you just zone in, your selective hearing has worked and you’re able to hear the boys.”
Holmes comes from impressive sporting pedigree.
His uncle was former Olympic champion rower Andy Holmes, who struck gold alongside Sir Steve Redgrave in 1984 and 1988.
Gatland will hope his new boy possesses some of that midas touch on Saturday.