Gareth Holgate

Gareth Leslie "Gaz" Holgate (born 3 December 1987) is a Welsh-born Philippine international rugby union player. Born in St Asaph, Denbighshire, Holgate currently plays for Japanese club Kyuden Voltex. His primary position is as a centre, but he can also play as a fly-half.

Gareth Holgate
Birth nameGareth Leslie Holgate
Date of birth (1987-12-03) 3 December 1987
Place of birthSt Asaph, Wales
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
SchoolRydal Penrhos
UniversityUWIC
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Fly-half
Current team Kyuden Voltex
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
?
2007–2010
2010		 Rhyl
UWIC
RGC 1404		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2010–2011
2011–		 Rugby Badia
Kyuden Voltex		 18
0		 (35)
(0)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006
2007–		 Philippines
Philippines U19		 9 (30)
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2007– Philippines

Career

Early years

Born in St Asaph, Denbighshire, to a Filipina mother and an English father, Holgate grew up in Gwaenysgor, near Prestatyn,[1] and attended Rydal Penrhos in Colwyn Bay.[2] While also playing for the school team, he began his rugby career with Rhyl and District RFC and played for them until he moved to Cardiff in 2007 to study at UWIC.[3]

UWIC RFC

While at UWIC, Holgate played for the university rugby team, UWIC RFC, in the WRU Division One East. After a short time with UWIC, Holgate received a call-up to the Philippines rugby sevens team for the 2007 SEA Games in December 2007, having qualified by virtue of his mother's Filipina heritage. The team reached the final, but lost 29–14 to the hosts, Thailand. This was soon followed by appearances for the Philippines national XV in the inaugural Asian Five Nations tournament in July 2008; he scored a try in the team's 101–0 win over Brunei and also played in a 20–8 win over Guam as the Philippines won the Pacific-Asia division.[4][5] He played again in the 2009 Asian Five Nations, but suffered an ankle injury in the Division 3 semi-final against Iran that kept him out of the 25–0 win over Guam in the final.[6][7] The 2010 Asian Five Nations saw Holgate compete for the Philippines in Division II. He played on the wing in the 53–33 semi-final win over Thailand,[8] before the Philippines went on to beat the hosts, India, 34–12 in the final to secure promotion to Division I.

Zhermack Badia

Holgate graduated from UWIC in 2010 and subsequently signed for Zhermack Badia of Serie A, the second tier of rugby in Italy. During the 2010–11 season, he scored seven tries in 18 appearances. The season culminated with Holgate being named in the Philippines squad for the 2011 Asian Five Nations Division I in Ansan, South Korea.[9] He played at outside centre in the semi-final against South Korea, but despite a good performance, he was unable to prevent a 34–20 defeat.[10] However, in the third-place play-off against Malaysia, Holgate scored a hat-trick of tries as the Philippines secured an 86–20 win to retain their Division I status for the 2012 tournament.[11][12]

Kyuden Voltex

After a year in Italy, Holgate signed for Japanese club Kyuden Voltex, who, at the time, played in the second tier of Japanese rugby.[13] He made his debut in a 22–7 friendly win over Meiji University on 12 June 2011.[14]

Holgate was part of the Philippines Sevens team that qualified for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in Moscow, their first appearance in the tournament.[15] After a three-week training camp,[16] Holgate was named in the Philippines final 12-man squad for the tournament.[17] Holgate played in all three of the Philippines' Pool C matches against Kenya, Samoa and Zimbabwe, making history against Kenya by scoring the Philippines' first ever try in the competition.

References
  1. Jones, Dave (30 June 2010). "Rugby Union: North Wales Exiles look to build on success". Denbigh Visitor. Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  2. "Vikings v Gogledd Cymru Matches Resume" (PDF). Rydal Penrhos Society News. Rydal Penrhos (17): 4–5. April 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  3. Jones, Dave (6 July 2010). "North Wales Exiles win Manchester Sevens". Daily Post. Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  4. "Ton up for Volcanoes". Rugby in Asia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  5. "Zappia seals hard fought victory". Rugby in Asia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  6. "Volcanoes team announced". Rugby in Asia. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  7. "Cullen rings the changes". Rugby in Asia. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  8. "Philippine Volcanoes upset Thailand in A5N Semi-final". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  9. "Volcanoes 2011 Asian 5 Nations Division 1 Squad Announced". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  10. "A5N Div 1 Match Report: Philippines Lose Arm Wrestle vs. Korea". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  11. "A5N Div 1 Match Report: Philippines Remain in A5N Div 1 with Resounding Win Over Malaysia". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  12. "Korea reclaim Top 5 spot". asian5nations.com. Asian Rugby Football Union. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  13. "2011年度 新加入選手（追加）のお知らせ". kyudenvoltex.com. Kyushu Electric Power Co. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  14. "6月12日（日）明治大学". kyudenvoltex.com. Kyushu Electric Power Co. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  15. "Volcanoes prepare for Rugby World Cup Sevens debut". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  16. "Volcanoes training camp for Rugby World Cup Sevens begins". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  17. "Philippine team for Rugby World Cup Sevens announced". prfu.com. Philippine Rugby Football Union. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
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