Holmes set for Reds swansong

By Mark Stevens
13/7/2016

Exeter Chiefs newcomer Greg Holmes is set for his swansong in Queensland colours after he was named as one of three changes made by the Reds for Friday's Super Rugby clash with Melbourne Rebels at the Suncorp Stadium.

Australian international Holmes (currently on 143 Super Rugby caps and 145 Queensland caps) is poised to move to Sandy Park within the next fortnight, but leaves the Reds as the most-capped prop in Queensland Rugby history, overtaking Stan Pilecki in 2015.

Tight-head prop Holmes, 33, can also lay claim to the title of most-capped Reds player in Super Rugby history and second on the list for overall Queensland appearances (behind Sean Hardman on 148).

Holmes takes over from fellow prop Sam Talakai, while other changes see prop James Slipper (sternum) and full-back Jack Tuttle (shoulder) replaced by Sef Fa’agase and Tom Banks respectively.

And in what is sure to be an emotional night for Holmes, who made his Reds debut back in 2005 at the age of 21, he is aiming to bow out from Brisbane on a high note.

“It’s been great, and one day I’ll think about how good it was to play with the guys I’ve played with and the ones I’ve been coached by,” said Holmes, whose career with the Reds has spanned two generations and seen him play with the likes of Chris Latham, David Croft and the guns of pre-2010 to the champions of recent years including James Horwill and Will Genia.

“I’ve been pretty lucky. There was a bit more yahooing back then,” he added. “But I’ve also loved being part of a more professional era when guys are more competitive, bigger, stronger and faster.”

Certainly Holmes has resurrected himself in recent times, establishing himself not only as the cornerstone of the Reds pack, but also a member of the Wallabies squad.

Coming to Exeter, though, will be a new challenge and he is well aware he has it all to do.

“I go over there as the new kid on the block, back to the front of the bus,” he joked. “I am getting on a bit but I’m playing the best footy I’ve ever played and I still want to be the number one tighthead.

“There’s no doubt I’ve got plenty of footy left in me and it’s hard to see the end.”

And when Holmes does dock into port here at Sandy Park, he should find plenty of familiar faces with Lachie Turner and fellow newcomer Dave Dennis close friends, while compatriots Julian Salvi, Mitch Lees and Ollie Atkins should also help with the settling in process.

Dennis, meanwhile, is set to feature alongside former Chiefs skipper Dean Mumm for the Waratahs in their final Super Rugby clash of the scheduled season away to the Blues in Auckland this weekend.