BY STAFF WRITERS

The New York Jets have confirmed general manager Mike Maccagnan called Valentine Holmes informing him he’d been picked up by the NFL giant as part of their practise squad for 2019 in an expansion of the league’s International Player Pathway program.

“The Jets’ overseas player is Valentine Holmes, 23, a former professional from Australia’s National Rugby League. Holmes (6’1″, 200), listed as a running back/wide receiver/kick returner, was notified he will be joining the Green & White when he received a call from general manager Mike Maccagnan this evening,” the Jets website reads.

“Holmes signed his first rugby contract with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at 17 and made his professional debut with the club as a winger and fullback at 19. He represented Australia in the 2017 Rugby World Cup, scoring five tries (touchdowns) in the quarterfinals and then six tries in the semis.

“Holmes will start out with a couple of Jets connections. For the past three months, he’s been training alongside NFL players and draft hopefuls in Florida under the supervision of the NFL’s Will Bryce along with IMG Academy coaches that include former Jets RB/KR Leon Washington and former Jets LBs coach Jim Herrmann.”

Holmes will join the Jets throughout training camp but will be “ineligible to be activated during the 2019 season.”