Luke Holmes
Hooker
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Profile
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Height:
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184cm
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Weight:
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105kgs
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Date Of Birth:
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14/11/1983
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Place of Birth:
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Mona Vale, Sydney
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Rugby Career
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Senior Club:
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Warringah
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Stats
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Provincial Rugby Caps:
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34 [Western Force 23, Rebels 5, HSBC Waratahs 6]
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Provincial Rugby Points:
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5 (1t), Western Force [5 (1t)]
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Provincial Rugby Debut:
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2006 v Sharks (Western Force)
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Super Rugby Caps:
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33 [Western Force 23, Rebels 5, HSBC Waratahs 5]
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Super Rugby Points:
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5 (1t), Force [5 (1t)]
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2006 v Sharks (Western Force)
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Born in Sydney, 28-year-old Luke Holmes grew up supporting the NSW Waratahs, hoping to one day pull on the light blue jersey. In 2013 he finally realised his childhood dream, when he debuted from the bench for the HSBC Waratahs in their round four match against the ACT Brumbies.
Older brother of former HSBC Waratahs scrum half Josh Holmes, Luke made his Super Rugby debut in 2006, amassing over 25 caps for the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels before linking with his home state for the 2013 season.
A member of the HSBC Waratahs Academy in 2003/4, Luke’s inclusion in the 2013 Extended Player Squad sees him return home to NSW for the first time in seven years. Strong in the set piece and with the mobility of a back rower, Luke brings with him a reputation for physicality across the park.
He took up rugby at the age of four with the Newport Breakers (then called the Dolphins) and represented the club for 13 years before joining Warringah. Born and bred on the Northern Beaches, Luke’s dad Mark played over 250 first grade games for Warringah as a No. 8 and prop, before coaching the club to a first grade premiership title in 2005 (when they beat Sydney University 29-23).
A former Australian Under-16s and Under-21s player and Australian Schoolboys captain, Luke has played alongside a number of his new NSW teammates, including Drew Mitchell (Australian Schoolboys and Western Force), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Schoolboys) and Benn Robinson (Under-21s). As a first grader at Warringah, Luke was picked up by the Western Force in their inaugural year in 2005. After spending four seasons in Perth, he spent a year training with the Waratahs before moving to the newly-formed Melbourne Rebels outfit, whom he represented in their first two seasons.
A qualified plumber, Luke has combined his rugby career with a number of professional roles in the construction industry. As a site engineer for the John Holland Group, he worked on the recent refurbishment of Melbourne International Airport. Having recently completed a Diploma in Business Management at Melbourne’s Pollard Institute, he is also studying for a Bachelor of Business Commerce with Curtin University in Western Australia.
Luke is also a dedicated family man and has two boys, Izak Jeyer (three) and Cruz Jagger (two), both massive rugby fans, and a baby daughter Harlow Scout who arrived in November 2012. Married to a kiwi, Luke met his wife Mel after they were introduced through her father, another former Warringah coach. Mel’s great grandfather is Lui Paewai, the youngest ever All Black. A flyhalf, Paewai made his international debut aged 17 years and 36 days when he played for the All Blacks against New South Wales at Athletic Park in 1923.
As passionate Waratahs fans, Luke and his family attended all the team’s home matches. Brought up on NSW heroes like Adam Freier and Brendan Cannon, Luke moved one step closer to achieving his boyhood dream of playing for NSW in 2003 when he was selected in the Waratahs Academy but was prompted to move west to further his career by the arrival of Tatafu Polota-Nau in 2006.
Back home in Sydney, Luke says he is stoked to be part of the team he has supported since childhood. Returning to the Northern Beaches suburb of Newport that was home until 2005, Luke is looking forward to finding time to fulfil his passion for surfing and still supporting his favourite AFL team, Collingwood. Luke is also actively involved with the Warringah Club and the development of youth on the northern beaches through programs that benefit the local community and beyond.
Updated June 17, 2013