It is possible that Leicester Tigers might pursue Harry Johnson-Holmes, the tighthead prop from Western Force, as they aim to reinforce their forward pack for the upcoming season.
The 28-year-old Johnson-Holmes was sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season due to a knee injury sustained during a pre-season match against the ACT Brumbies a year prior.
Western Force provided him with an additional year on his agreement, extending his contract to encompass the 2026 season, meaning he will be available to join Welford Road later in the current year. Upon finalising the deal, he expressed feeling that his work was not yet complete.
Johnson-Holmes featured for Australia for 32 minutes during a 35-17 loss to South Africa in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, in July 2019, and is familiar to Leicester Tigers’ head coach, Geoff Parling.
Parling, who previously played lock for England and the Lions, concluded his professional playing days with the Melbourne Rebels, subsequently serving five years as the forwards coach for the Wallabies, prior to relocating to the East Midlands following the Lions series earlier this year.
Johnson-Holmes participated in 91 games for the NSW Waratahs from 2018 to 2024 before joining the Force, and has the potential to offer experienced cover for England international Joe Hayes.
His time with the Waratahs began in the loosehead position, an area where the Tigers will be without Wales international Nicky Smith, who is set to move to Sale Sharks, before he transitioned to the tighthead side of the scrum.
Leicester, who face the departures of George Martin to Saracens and Hanro Liebenberg to the Bulls, held discussions with Perpignan’s Georgian international player Giorgi Tetrashvili, but he ultimately chose to renew his current agreement and remain in the Top 14 league.
Parling has begun to make significant player recruitment efforts, having previously confirmed that Aaron Wainwright will transfer from the Dragons and Elliot Stooke will arrive from the Red Hurricanes.
According to insights obtained by RugbyPass, the club is also seeking a new centre and could require an additional fly-half should experienced Wallaby player James O’Connor opt to depart.
