Terry Holmes
Encyclopedia
Terence David Holmes is a Welsh
former dual-code international rugby union
and professional rugby league
footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league
for Bradford Northern
.
Holmes joined the Cardiff
Youth side at the age of sixteen and went on to play for the senior side for ten seasons.
Given the task of filling the Wales scrum-half position after the retirement of Gareth Edwards
, aged 21 Holmes won his first cap for Wales in 1978 against . He went on to play in the Triple Crown
winning side of 1979. He won 25 caps, playing his last match against in 1985, and scored 9 tries for Wales.
Holmes also played for the British and Irish Lions
on their 1980 tour to South Africa
and 1983 tour to New Zealand
, but was forced to return home early through injury from both tours.
In late-1985, Holmes became one of the biggest names of the time to turn professional, when he joined Bradford Northern
for £80, 000. However injuries meant that he only played 40 games for the club before his retirement two years later.
After retirement, Holmes coached Cardiff and then Caerphilly
rugby union teams, resigning as Caerphilly coach owing to business commitments in 2002.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former dual-code international 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...
and professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who won 25 caps for as a scrum-half and later played rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
for Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
.
Holmes joined the Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
Youth side at the age of sixteen and went on to play for the senior side for ten seasons.
Given the task of filling the Wales scrum-half position after the retirement of Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
, aged 21 Holmes won his first cap for Wales in 1978 against . He went on to play in the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
winning side of 1979. He won 25 caps, playing his last match against in 1985, and scored 9 tries for Wales.
Holmes also played for the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
on their 1980 tour to South Africa
1980 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...
and 1983 tour to New Zealand
1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1983 the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the first time since 1977. The Lions went down to a 4-0 whitewash for only the second time in history - the previous was also inflicted by the All Blacks on the 1966 Lions. Overall the Lions played eighteen matches, winning twelve and...
, but was forced to return home early through injury from both tours.
In late-1985, Holmes became one of the biggest names of the time to turn professional, when he joined Bradford Northern
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
for £80, 000. However injuries meant that he only played 40 games for the club before his retirement two years later.
After retirement, Holmes coached Cardiff and then Caerphilly
Caerphilly RFC
Caerphilly Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team founded in 1887. Their home ground is Virginia Park in Caerphilly and their nickname is The Cheesemen. Caerphilly RFC currently play in the WRU Division One East and are a feeder club for the Newport Gwent Dragons.Caerphilly RFC also run a...
rugby union teams, resigning as Caerphilly coach owing to business commitments in 2002.