Ex-Dragons and Wales wing starts shift to life after rugby with return to home club

FORMER Wales and Dragons speedster Jonah Holmes has returned home to London Scottish after finishing his full-time rugby career.

The 31-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Exiles after leaving English Championship champions Ealing Trailfinders.

The seven-times capped wing/full-back is a building surveyor and will look towards life after rugby while playing in the second tier.

Holmes said: “I’m really looking forward to returning to London Scottish where my rugby journey began at under-12s.

"I’m especially grateful to have the opportunity to continue playing championship rugby while working full time."

Holmes brings experience of the top level after playing for Wasps and Leicester Tigers, catching the eye of Warren Gatland.

He then moved to Wales with the Dragons to try and push for more international honours.

Holmes scored 14 tries in 31 appearances over two seasons at Rodney Parade before moving on after being on the Test fringes under Wayne Pivac and dropping off the list of the Welsh Rugby Union’s elite 38-man squad.

He spent two seasons with Ealing and helped then win the title this year along with the Premiership Cup semi-finals, when edged out by his former Tigers teammates.

London Scottish director of rugby Bryan Redpath said: "Jonah is an immensely talented rugby player and it is a real coup to bring him to the club for the next couple of years.

"He brings a wealth of experience and will be a real asset to our young squad."

Holmes joins a back three which this season included former Dragons full-back/wing Will Talbot-Davies, a Wales Sevens international who signed for Scottish from Championship rivals Coventry.