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South African centre the latest ex Jersey player to be snapped up by Newcastle
By Josh Raisey
Newcastle Falcons have announced the signing of former Jersey Reds centre Jordan Holgate until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old has been training with the Falcons since last season's Championship winners went bust in September, while playing for Darlington Mowden Park in National One. But having impressed during this time, he has been brought on board at Kingston Park, joining his former Jersey teammates John Hawkins and James Elliott at the club.
Holgate is well travelled, having played for the Bulls and the Boland Cavaliers in his native South Africa, as well as Russia's Slava Moscow, but now finds himself with a Newcastle side that are still searching for their first win this season in the Gallagher Premiership or the Challenge Cup.
“It was a bittersweet couple of months with winning the Championship and then having the club drop out of the league, with all of the uncertainty it brought,” he said after signing for the Falcons.
“I’m excited to be at Newcastle Falcons and grateful to have the opportunity of playing at the top level. Hopefully I can bring some energy and go-forward to the midfield, and just offer something different.
“The fact that I’ve already been training here for a couple of months is obviously helpful in terms of knowing the boys and all the plays, and everyone here has been really good with me.
“I was coached by our attack coach Tom Williams at Jersey and had James Elliott and John Hawkins as team-mates, which has helped the transition here, but the boys have all been great and I’m looking forward to hopefully showing what I can bring to the team.”
Head coach Alex Codling said: “It feels strange to be talking about Jordan as a new signing because he’s actually been with us for the past couple of months, but it’s great now having him available for selection.
“He did really well with Jersey before the sad events during the early part of the season, but out of something so bad at least this new opportunity has opened up for him at Newcastle.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Jordan in a Falcons shirt. He is a player who has a lot to offer, and he brings something different to our midfield options in terms of his running game and the opportunities that opens up.”
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Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
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