Dan Kelly (rugby union)

Dan Kelly

Full name	Daniel Kelly
Date of birth	(2001-06-16) 16 June 2001
Place of birth	Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England
Height	6ft 1 in
Weight	15st 11 lbs

Daniel Kelly (born 16 June 2001) is an English professional rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. His usual position is centre. Born in Manchester, England, Kelly represented Ireland Under 20s, before being capped for the England national team in 2021.

Career

Kelly started playing rugby at under six years old for Rochdale RUFC, in Greater Manchester. He joined Kirkham Grammar School at 16 and was part of the Sale Sharks academy set up. Due to a number of other players considered more talented he was not offered a professional contract at 18 so joined Loughborough University.

On 10 April 2020 Kelly signed for Leicester Tigers, joining for the end of the delayed 2019-20 Premiership Rugby season. He made his debut as a substitute in a 46–30 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm. He quickly became a regular starter at inside centre, and by April 2022 was being highlighted by team mates as a defence leader as Leicester prepared for a European Rugby Champions Cup round of 16 tie with Clermont Auvergne.

On 8th of July 2021 Kelly has been selected to play for his first cap for England, and he made his international debut for England on 10 July 2021 against Canada at Twickenham.