Scouser Maliq feels at home among Knights

MALIQ HOLDEN’s relatively short rugby career has almost been as diverse as his family background but the new Doncaster back-three player has no doubt where he feels most comfortable – in the north of England.

- JON NEWCOMBE

Born in Liverpool but raised around the world, Holden’s interest in rugby was first piqued on an Army base in Cyprus, where his mother had a teaching job and the Royal Welsh regiment introduced him to the sport.

But it was a move to the Netherlands that set him on the path to playing professionally, with Holden representing the Dutch at youth level before moving to Hartpury.

At Hartpury, the 25-year old played with Italian internationals Jake Polledri and Seb Negri and won two BUCS titles. From Hartpury, he spent three years at Cornish Pirates and has now joined the Knights, bringing him closer to his Scouse roots.

“Pirate is a special club and there are some really good people involved and I could have stayed there, I didn’t necessarily want to leave – but I wanted to challenge myself and improve and I felt the best place to do that was here,” he said of his move to Castle Park.