John Holmes (rugby league)

John Holmes (21 March 1952 – 26 September 2009) was an English Rugby League World Cup winning footballer of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Leeds (Heritage № 1022).

John Holmes won caps for England while at Leeds in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against Wales, France, New Zealand, and Australia, in 1977 against Wales, and France (sub), in 1978 against France (sub), and won caps for Great Britain while at Leeds in 1971 against New Zealand, in 1972 against France (2 matches), in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup against Australia (sub), New Zealand and Australia, in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup against France, New Zealand, Australia, and Australia (sub), in 1978 against Australia (sub) (3 matches), in 1979 against Australia (2 matches), Australia (sub), and New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1982 against Australia.

In a career spanning from 1968 to 1989, Holmes made a club record 625 appearances for Leeds, starting his career as a full-back or centre and later switching to stand-off, i.e. number 6. His debut was in a Lazenby Cup match against Hunslet where he scored a try and kicked 10 goals. He played in nineteen major finals for Leeds winning all but five. He played at the highest level representing Yorkshire, England and Great Britain. He made 20 appearances between 1971 and 1982 for Great Britain, and was a World Cup winner for Great Britain in 1972 at the age of twenty.