The Ospreys are delighted to confirm that Marty Holah has signed a new one-year contract.
With his existing contract set to expire at the end of the current season, the 33-year New Zealander has handed the region a boost by agreeing to extend his stay in south Wales for another twelve months.
Holah has made a huge impact since first arriving at the region in November 2007, proving to be an influential figure on and off the pitch and clocking up 59 appearances in an Ospreys shirt to date, scoring one try. His regional debut came in a 51-16 win over London Irish at the Liberty Stadium just four days after touching down in the UK. This season has seen the 36 times capped All Black rolling back the years with a series of eye catching performances, making 14 appearances so far during the current campaign.
Speaking after signing his new deal, Holah said:
"It's great that I've been able to tie up a new contract, allowing me to focus on what looks like it's going to be a pretty exciting few months between now and the end of the season. I've been pretty happy with the way things have gone this year, after the hard work of the last couple of seasons I get the feeling that there's something special building here and I thought that I'd like to stick around and be a part of it. Obviously I've spent some time considering my options, and there was a pull to head home. Priorities change a little bit when you have a baby on the way and I did contemplate going back to be closer to the family, but there's a really strong community here at the Ospreys and I feel really comfortable being part of it, so that was a big factor in deciding to stay on, probably the biggest if I'm honest.
"I'm really enjoying my rugby so it's not hard to find the motivation to keep going. As long as I get that feeling, as long as I'm enjoying myself, I'll keep going on I think. I'm not looking too far ahead at this stage, when you get a bit older you can't really do that, it's about the here and now. I'll see how the body's feeling next year and whether the Ospreys still want me, before any decisions are made. There's a good group of young players coming through here, some really talented opensides in Tips and Ben Lewis that I've been working with, and the way they are developing, there may not be a place for me come then anyway, no matter what I think! That's rugby for you, they are good players who are improving week by week, and there's also Steve Tandy who keeps snapping at my heels, so there is real strength in depth here at seven which is good for everybody as it keeps driving you forward, and is essential if the Ospreys are going to achieve what we want to between now and the end of next season."
Ospreys Head Coach, Sean Holley, added:
"Marty agreeing to re-sign for another year is great news for the region. He is such a quality player, and for him to want to stay at the Ospreys says a lot for what he thinks about the team and the set-up in place here. He has been a great asset to us in the time he has spent here already, not only for the outstanding and consistent displays that he puts in week in, week out, but also, for the undoubted influence he has elsewhere in the Ospreys environment. You only have to look at his performances in the Heineken Cup this season to understand his true ability and his worth to the team.
"Also, we have some outstanding youngsters coming through in his position, such as Ben Lewis and Justin Tipuric, who benefit enormously from the work that he does with them. He is superb around the squad, a real team player who happily gives up his own time for the benefit of his team-mates and is undoubtedly up there as one of the best overseas signings we've made at the Ospreys. He is a great example of what we say about signing quality overseas players who bring something special to the environment, not just on the field of play. We're all delighted that he will be staying with us for another season."