Newcastle Falcons have confirmed the signing of former Jersey Reds centre Jordan Holgate, until the end of the current season. The 26-year-old helped Jersey to the 2022/23 RFU Championship title and scored a try during September’s memorable Premiership Rugby Cup victory away to Bath.
Holgate joined the Falcons a few month’s prior to today’s confirmed signing, and has since been training with Alex Codling’s squad up in the North East. He has been playing for Darlington Mowden Park in National One, but will run out in Falcons colours for the remainder of the season.
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.”
Explaining his rugby journey, Holgate said: “I was born in Cape Town and started my rugby there with Wynberg Boys and Western Province before heading up north and spending a couple of years with the Bulls.”
Holgate went on to play for Boland Cavaliers in South Africa’s Currie Cup, before he spent a season with Russian side Slava Moscow. Holgate then moved over to the Channel Islands and was a key part of the triumphant league winning Jersey side.
“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 in a Newcastle Falcons statement.
“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.”
Newcastle Falcons are next in Premiership action on Friday night, when they host Bristol Bears at Kingston Park.