Gareth Holgate
Encyclopedia
Gareth Leslie "Gaz" Holgate (born 3 December 1987) is a Welsh
-born Philippine international
rugby union
player. Born in St Asaph
, Denbighshire
, Holgate currently plays for Japanese club Kyuden Voltex
. His primary position is as a centre, but he can also play as a fly-half.
, Denbighshire
, to a Filipina mother and an English father, Holgate grew up in Gwaenysgor, near Prestatyn
, and attended Rydal Penrhos
in Colwyn Bay
. While also playing for the school team, he began his rugby career with Rhyl and District RFC
and played for them until he moved to Cardiff
in 2007 to study at UWIC
.
, in the WRU Division One East
. After a short time with UWIC, Holgate received a call-up to the Philippines rugby sevens
team for the 2007 SEA Games in December 2007, having qualified by virtue of his mother's Filipina heritage. The team reached the final, but lost 29–14 to the hosts, Thailand
. This was soon followed by appearances for the Philippines national XV
in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament in July 2008; he scored a try in the team's 101–0 win over Brunei
and also played in a 20–8 win over Guam
as the Philippines won the Pacific-Asia division. He played again in the 2009 Asian Five Nations, but suffered an ankle injury in the Division 3 semi-final against Iran
that kept him out of the 25–0 win over Guam in the final. The 2010 Asian Five Nations saw Holgate compete for the Philippines in Division II. He played on the wing in the 53–33 semi-final win over Thailand
, before the Philippines went on to beat the hosts, India
, 34–12 in the final to secure promotion to Division I.
, the second tier of rugby in Italy. During the 2010–11 season, he scored seven tries in 18 appearances. The season culminated with Holgate being named in the Philippines squad for the 2011 Asian Five Nations Division I
in Ansan
, South Korea
. He played at outside centre in the semi-final against South Korea, but despite a good performance, he was unable to prevent a 34–20 defeat. However, in the third-place play-off against Malaysia
, Holgate scored a hat-trick of tries as the Philippines secured an 86–20 win to retain their Division I status for the 2012 tournament.
, who play in the second tier of Japanese rugby. He made his debut in a 22–7 friendly win over Meiji University on 12 June 2011.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
-born Philippine international
Philippines national rugby union team
The Philippines national rugby union team, nicknamed the "Volcanoes" represents the Philippines in international rugby union. The Philippines have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have been playing in the Asian 5 Nations tournaments since its inception in 2008. Currently they are...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. Born in St Asaph
St Asaph
St Asaph is a town and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.The town of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele,...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Holgate currently plays for Japanese club Kyuden Voltex
Kyuden Voltex
Kyuden Voltex is a Japanese rugby team owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co. . The nickname "Voltex" is a conflation of "Voltage" and "Techniques" and was decided after the team won promotion to the Top League. The team is based in Kashii, Fukuoka and from the 2007-8 season is playing in the...
. His primary position is as a centre, but he can also play as a fly-half.
Early years
Born in St AsaphSt Asaph
St Asaph is a town and community on the River Elwy in Denbighshire, Wales. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 3,491.The town of St Asaph is surrounded by countryside and views of the Vale of Clwyd. It is situated close to a number of busy coastal towns such as Rhyl, Prestatyn, Abergele,...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, to a Filipina mother and an English father, Holgate grew up in Gwaenysgor, near Prestatyn
Prestatyn
Prestatyn is a seaside resort, town and community in Denbighshire, North Wales. It is located on the Irish Sea coast, to the east of Rhyl. At the 2001 Census, Prestatyn had a population of 18,496.-Prehistory:...
, and attended Rydal Penrhos
Rydal Penrhos
Rydal Penrhos is a private co-educational boarding school in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. It is located on multiple sites around the town including a site in the neighbouring village of Rhos-on-Sea where it keeps its watersports equipment for easy access to the beach.The school, as it exists today,...
in Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
. While also playing for the school team, he began his rugby career with Rhyl and District RFC
Rhyl and District RFC
Rhyl and District Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club in Rhuddlan outside Rhyl, North Wales. Rhyl and District RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Llanelli Scarlets....
and played for them until he moved to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in 2007 to study at UWIC
University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a university situated in Cardiff. It operates from three campuses: Llandaff on Western Avenue, Cyncoed, and Howard Gardens in the City Centre. The university serves over 12,000 students...
.
UWIC RFC
While at UWIC, Holgate played for the university rugby team, UWIC RFCUWIC RFC
UWIC Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team currently playing in the WRU Division One West. They are a modern university team. UWIC RFC are a feeder club for Cardiff Blues.-Notable former players:Inclusion criteria: Attained international caps...
, in the WRU Division One East
WRU Division One East
The Welsh Rugby Union Division One East is a rugby union league in Wales first implemented for the 1995/96 season.- Competition:There are 12 clubs in the WRU Division One East...
. After a short time with UWIC, Holgate received a call-up to the Philippines rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
team for the 2007 SEA Games in December 2007, having qualified by virtue of his mother's Filipina heritage. The team reached the final, but lost 29–14 to the hosts, Thailand
Thailand national rugby union team
The Thailand national rugby union team represents Thailand in international rugby union. Thailand have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have been playing in qualifying tournaments since the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales.-History:...
. This was soon followed by appearances for the Philippines national XV
Philippines national rugby union team
The Philippines national rugby union team, nicknamed the "Volcanoes" represents the Philippines in international rugby union. The Philippines have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have been playing in the Asian 5 Nations tournaments since its inception in 2008. Currently they are...
in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament in July 2008; he scored a try in the team's 101–0 win over Brunei
Brunei national rugby union team
The Brunei National Rugby Team represents Brunei in international rugby union. They have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup. It is governed by the Brunei Rugby Football Union-History:...
and also played in a 20–8 win over Guam
Guam national rugby union team
The Guam national rugby union team represents Guam in international rugby union. They have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, though they have attempted to qualify for the World Cup.-History:...
as the Philippines won the Pacific-Asia division. He played again in the 2009 Asian Five Nations, but suffered an ankle injury in the Division 3 semi-final against Iran
Iran national rugby union team
The Iran national rugby union team is a sporting side that represents Iran in rugby union and is controlled by the Rugby and Cricket Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran....
that kept him out of the 25–0 win over Guam in the final. The 2010 Asian Five Nations saw Holgate compete for the Philippines in Division II. He played on the wing in the 53–33 semi-final win over Thailand
Thailand national rugby union team
The Thailand national rugby union team represents Thailand in international rugby union. Thailand have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have been playing in qualifying tournaments since the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales.-History:...
, before the Philippines went on to beat the hosts, India
India national rugby union team
The Indian national rugby union team is a national rugby team representing the country of India in international competition. It is ranked 75th in the world , out of 95teams. Their captain is Nasser Hussain, nicknamed "Nino" and they are currently being coached by South Africans Norman Laker and...
, 34–12 in the final to secure promotion to Division I.
Zhermack Badia
Holgate graduated from UWIC in 2010 and subsequently signed for Zhermack Badia of Serie ASerie A (rugby union)
Serie A is the name of the second tier of the Italian Rugby Union championship. Until the creation of the Super 10 in a 2002 restructuring exercise, it was the name of the top tier....
, the second tier of rugby in Italy. During the 2010–11 season, he scored seven tries in 18 appearances. The season culminated with Holgate being named in the Philippines squad for the 2011 Asian Five Nations Division I
2011 Asian Five Nations division tournaments
The 2011 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, known as the 2011 HSBC Asian 5 Nations due to the tournament's sponsorship by the HSBC, refer to the divisions played within the tournement. This was the 4th series of the Asian Five Nations....
in Ansan
Ansan
Ansan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies south of Seoul, and is part of the Seoul National Capital Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4....
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. He played at outside centre in the semi-final against South Korea, but despite a good performance, he was unable to prevent a 34–20 defeat. However, in the third-place play-off against Malaysia
Malaysia national rugby union team
The Malaysia national rugby union team represents Malaysia in international rugby union. Malaysia have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have attempted to qualify since the South African World Cup in 1995.-History:...
, Holgate scored a hat-trick of tries as the Philippines secured an 86–20 win to retain their Division I status for the 2012 tournament.
Kyuden Voltex
After a year in Italy, Holgate signed for Japanese club Kyuden VoltexKyuden Voltex
Kyuden Voltex is a Japanese rugby team owned by Kyushu Electric Power Co. . The nickname "Voltex" is a conflation of "Voltage" and "Techniques" and was decided after the team won promotion to the Top League. The team is based in Kashii, Fukuoka and from the 2007-8 season is playing in the...
, who play in the second tier of Japanese rugby. He made his debut in a 22–7 friendly win over Meiji University on 12 June 2011.