Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes has signed a two-year extension with NSW to keep him in Sydney until 2022.
The loosehead was already locked in through to the end of 2020 but opted to extend that in a deal announced on Wednesday morning.
Johnson-Holmes enjoyed a breakout 2019 season, stepping up in the absence of injured prop Tom Robertson, starting every match for NSW this year.
His meteoric rise was capped with a Wallabies debut in Johannesburg in July, that came with one of the best debutant stories.
The front rower was famously called away from a schnitzel dinner to join the Australian team in Johannesburg after a series of prop injuries.
Johnson-Holmes said he was grateful to be able to play rugby in his home state.
“I’ve been working through the pathways at NSW Rugby for a while now, stretching back to my junior days at the Wanderers in Newcastle,” he said.
“To represent my home state in [Vodafone] Super Rugby has been such a privilege, working alongside some great people has been huge for my development as a player.
“I’m learning every day, it’s a great environment here at the Waratahs and to be here for another two seasons is something I’m really excited about.”
NSW general manager of rugby Tim Rapp said Johnson-Holmes' hard work in recent years was starting to pay off.
“Harry has really impressed since joining the squad in 2018,” Rapp said.
“He arrived as a young player with plenty of promise after performing well in junior representative teams, and he’s worked extremely hard to entrench himself into the match day squad over the last two years.
“While only early in his career, Harry has shown he can compete with some of the best in Vodafone Super Rugby and he’ll be an important player for us next season.”
