Bolter Holmes has Lions pair in his sights

WALES’ newcomer Jonah Holmes insists he will not consider himself a Test player until he is named in the Six Nations squad.

Holmes, 26, made his Red Dragons debut at full-back against Tonga last month, completing an arduous ascent to the top that has encompassed spells at Wasps, Henley, London Welsh, Yorkshire Carnegie and current side Leicester.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to win my first cap and I’ll relish it, but I won’t consider myself an international until I get a few more under my belt and I’ve got some proving to do to get there,” Holmes, right, told The Rugby Paper.

“With players like Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams well established and playing well, I’ve got a big task to compete.

“Warren Gatland and the other Welsh coaches were pretty pleased with how I went against Tonga and it was a great experience, but I’ve got to make sure I perform for Leicester and be in contention for the January squad.”

Holmes enjoyed his first Wales camp, adding: “All the boys had played together for a long time so it was quite daunting as a newbie, but they were all very supportive. I got to know them quickly and then it was just about playing rugby.” Holmes must now put runs on the board for a Leicester side whose Champions Cup hopes hang by a thread ahead of back-toback clashes with Racing 92. He said: “We got our foot in the door after beating Scarlets well last time out in one of our best performances. It was a massive effort that day but it will count for nothing if we don’t back it up now against Racing.”

Having conceded over four tries per game in the Premiership so far, Holmes added: “Too many points are going in against us but we’re on to that and staying positive. We are by no means out of these competitions if we can fix it.”