Wales star reveals motivation behind ambitious move and how rugby has been put into perspective by recent family illness

It's been a concerning time for Dragons recruit Jonah Holmes whose doctor brother has been very ill amid the coronavirus pandemic

While Jonah Holmes has had a big decision to make over his playing future of late, rugby has been put in sharp perspective by events away from the game.

Amid finalising his move from Leicester to the Dragons, the Welsh international has been faced with the concerning situation over his elder brother Raphael, a doctor who was taken very ill during the early days of the Covid crisis.

It led to Holmes going into quarantine up in Manchester, where one half of the family lives, while his brother battled pneumonia.

Happily, Raphael is now fully recovered and back in work, but it was a worrying time for all concerned.

“I was already in quarantine up in Manchester when the lockdown happened because I was looking after my brother who got really ill,” explained Jonah.

“He was working in intensive care in Bolton and got pneumonia, but didn’t get tested, so we will never know if he had Covid.

“It was pretty worrying. There have been quite a few people I know of in the same boat.

“He did everything right. As soon as he had any symptoms, he stayed in isolation, so I didn’t see him for those two weeks when I was up there.

“Thankfully he has come through it and he is back in work now, with no issues. He’s good.

“It puts things in perspective, of course. It has to be taken seriously. I am just grateful he didn’t go down too bad.

“When my quarantine finished, I was able to move down to London.

“This is where I have been based since then.”

It will be in Gwent that he will be based when rugby resumes, having extricated himself from the final year of his contract with Leicester to sign for the Dragons.

Adding to his current tally of three Welsh caps was a key factor is his decision, with his move meaning his time with the national squad will no longer be restricted by club commitments.

“I hope being in Wales will help. It means I won’t have to travel back and fore if I do get in the squad,” he said.

“The way it was, I would train one day and then head back to Leicester while the rest of the boys get the whole rest of the week to train. That wasn’t great for me.

“If you are not in the coach’s eyeline for the same amount of time as everybody else, then it’s not going to benefit you as a player. It’s hard.

“Plus if you are playing in Wales you are in the spotlight, whereas you are sort of in the distance when you are over there playing in the Premiership.

“I’m very ambitious. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have ambition.

“I would like think I will get a better chance of being involved in the Wales team this way.

“It’s a competitive position in the back three, but that is only going to drive us all and hopefully this move will give me a chance to push them a bit harder.

“Wayne Pivac and his team have been very supportive in the process.”

The versatile Holmes, who describes himself as a wing/full-back, also likes what he has seen of the Dragons set-up under director of rugby Dean Ryan.

“When I was told it was a possibility, it was something I was interested in,” he said.

“My agent looked into it and it went from there.

“It was a hard decision, but quite a simple one as well. When you get an opportunity like this, you take it.

“I get to be part of the progress that was made on the field last year and work under Dean and the new coaching staff.

“I know the game they want to play and it’s the kind of game and style of rugby I want to be part of.

“I’m excited to get over and play regularly with them and it’s a whole new competition to sample.

“I am ready to go now, but just waiting for the government to say go.”

Born in Stockport and schooled in Ealing, Holmes qualifies for Wales through his late grandmother Rachel Jenkins from Cwmllynfell.

Now 27, he has served a real apprenticeship in the game, spending a fair chunk of time in England’s second tier, having spells with Rosslyn Park, Henley, London Welsh and primarily Leeds while out on loan from Wasps, ahead of linking up with Leicester.

“I guess it has been more of an unconventional route,” he admitted.

“But I wouldn’t change the way I have come to this point.

“It’s made me see exactly what kind of team I want to be part of and what kind of coaching staff I want to be playing under.

“It’s been a benefit and I’m glad I’ve had the experience of all those different management systems and clubs.”

Speaking about the signing of Holmes, Dragons boss Ryan revealed it’s a story that goes back a number of years.

“I have followed Jonah for a while,” he explained.

“We had a look at him when I was at Worcester.

“He was having a lot of success out on loan with Leeds and we tried to recruit him.

“But Wasps wouldn’t be flexible in terms of what that would look like, so we missed that opportunity.

“He went on to Leicester and increased his successes and got international honours.

“So it’s not just about looking over the last three or four months, but the last six or seven years.

“His ability to play in a number of positions is hugely beneficial for a squad like ours.

“Hopefully he will push on for more international honours now.

“Being with Wales, then going away and playing in the Premiership and coming back doesn’t suit anybody.”

As for how the deal was done, Ryan said: “We approached Leicester via Jonah’s agent. We have been quite active in the exile market and we know Wayne (Pivac) is keen to get as many Welsh-qualified players into Wales as he can so he can exert as much influence as possible.

“The Premiership clubs are also facing the challenge of having non-English qualified players and that was an opportunity.

“It’s quite straightforward, it’s a deal with the Dragons.

“I believe there’s an opportunity for him to be part of the national 38, but it’s our risk, our decision, the same as any other recruitment.

“We were the ones that negotiated his release with Leicester, we are the ones that take the risk of carrying his salary.”