ONE-ON-ONE: Last Friday, November 21, Kaleb Holmes sat for the last of his matric (Grade 12) exams, with a professional Rugby League contract already safely tucked away in his back pocket.
The Dolphins, a team in Australia’s National Rugby League, confirmed earlier this month that Paarl Boys’ High School wing had signed for the Moreton Bay-based outfit.
Holmes is the first SA schoolboy to sign with an NRL team in more than a decade.
As a regular member of the powerful Boys High First XV, he started on the left wing in the impressive 35-33 win over rivals Paarl Gimnasium in a dramatic derby at Faure Street Stadium back in August.
A week earlier, Holmes had scored a hat-trick in Boys High’s 51-8 demolition of SACS at the Brug Street Stadium.
The 18-year-old had clearly impressed the Dolphins scouts enough to offer him a spot in their NRL academy and pathways system, where he will join them in January.
Earlier this year, he was described as a player with the ‘speed of a sprinter, the soul of a warrior’.
He has a background in athletics, with an impressive 40-metre personal best of 4.64 seconds
The Dolphins are a Rugby League team, based in the Redcliffe Peninsula area of the City of Moreton Bay (which is part of the greater Brisbane area of South East Queensland), competing in the Australian National Rugby League.
Jan de Koning sat down with Holmes to find out more about the rising young star!
Jan de Koning: Give us some background on you. Where did it all start?
Kaleb Holmes: I started my schooling at Beaumont Primary in Somerset West, where my love for sport began. In Grade Six I moved to Paarl Boys Primary, mainly for rugby, and that’s really where the game started becoming a big part of my life. For high school, I attended Paul Roos, and although I had good times and made great memories there, I made the decision to switch to Paarl Boys High at the end of Grade 11. That was also a rugby decision, and it turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made. The brotherhood I found at Boishaai – on the field and off it – is something I’ll carry with me forever. The players, the coaches, and the environment push you to become a better version of yourself, not only as an athlete but as a person. It really shaped my mindset and prepared me for the next level.
JdK: You just finished exams. How did that go? What is your favourite subject?
KH: Yes, I’ve finally finished my Matric exams. They went well, and I’m excited to see my results. My favourite subject was PE (Physical Education) – probably because there are no textbooks, and everything is based on movement, sport, and understanding your body. It came naturally to me.
JdK: Why the NRL? And the Dolphins? Surely there must be some Springbok dreams in your future?
KH: With the pace that I have been gifted and blessed with I always excelled in space and where I had the opportunities to play Sevens, I always did very well. At 15-man rugby when I got space, I gained a lot of meters and could beat three to four defenders and with the NRL I love the way the game is played. I enjoy space, speed, acceleration, and using those strengths to break the line – and Rugby League really allows me to express that side of my game. I played fullback and at times flyhalf in primary school, but my speed moved me to wing at Western Province at Under-16 level. Under-14 A, I played at No.10 for Paul Roos and Under-15 A, I played No.10 and No.15 for Paul Roos. The Dolphins first interviewed me before they sent me an offer. Their strong values that came through the interview drew me immediately to the club and, I felt at home. They believed in my potential, and I want to give everything back to a club willing to grow me into the player I can become. As for Springbok dreams – of course, representing your country is an honour every rugby player thinks about. I am still hoping that the Junior Bok Selectors keeps an eye on me, but I can only control what I can. So right now, my future is in Australia, and the NRL is where I want to develop, grow, and upskill. I want to take this opportunity fully and commit to the journey ahead.
JdK: What were your other post-school options?
KH: I had interest from clubs in France, and I also spent some time visiting the Sharks. I’m grateful for every opportunity – but when the Dolphins contacted me, I knew I had to take it with both hands. I am the first South African Schoolboy to get this chance and privilege. I really want to thank my agent Anthony Johnson from Le Cap Sport Agency. He really believes in me and has been really supportive of my career. Because of his relationships within the NRL and my potential, he opened the door for me to play in the NRL. Now I need to show what I can do.
JdK: How much do you know about the NRL & Rugby League? What attracts you to that code?
KH: I’ve been, since signing my contract, studying the NRL closely – the rules, the pace, the style, and the physicality. I still have a lot to learn on the field, but that’s exactly where growth happens. Rugby League is fast, intense, and extremely demanding, and I feel it fits perfectly with how I love to play. Growing up in South Africa, League isn’t something you’re exposed to at all, so this opportunity truly feels like a blessing. and being the first South African schoolboy brings the added pressure but nothing I can’t handle.
JdK: Do you have heroes/role models in Rugby Union and Rugby League?
KH: Yes. Herbie Farnworth is someone I really look up to. He left the UK at 15 for Australia when he was still in school, faced the challenges head-on, and worked his way up to becoming one of the greats. His journey shows that talent is good, but character is everything. It’s about resilience, hard work, and grabbing your opportunity. Nothing has ever come easy to me, so I am ready for this opportunity.
JdK: Did you ever consider athletics as an option?
KH: I’ve done athletics my whole life, and it’s played a huge role in my rugby development, especially in terms of speed and explosiveness. My last recorded time for a 40-metre sprint is 4.64 seconds, so athletics was definitely something people asked me about as a possible path. But I’m a team player at heart – and rugby has always been where I feel happiest. The team environment, the brotherhood, and the physical side of the game make it my first choice.
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