Neil Kelly

Neil Kelly (born 10 May 1962) is an English rugby league coach and former professional player who was the head coach of Cornwall RLFC.

Neil Kelly

Personal information
Born	(1962-05-10) 10 May 1962 (age 60) Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Playing information
Position	Loose forward, Hooker
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1984–86 Dewsbury Rams 1985–86 Featherstone Rovers 1986–87 Wakefield Trinity ≥1987–≤89 Hunslet Hawks 1989–91 Dewsbury Rams Total 0 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Rugby league
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 1995–01 Dewsbury Rams 2001–04 Widnes Vikings 28 14 1 13 50 2008–10 Leigh Centurions 2017–18 Dewsbury Rams 2022 Cornwall RLFC 11 1 0 10 9 Total 39 15 1 23 38 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2001–03 Wales 5 1 0 4 20
Rugby union
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2004–08 Ulster Rugby (defence) 2010 Doncaster R.F.C. (assistant) 2019–21 Houston SaberCats (defense) Total 0 0 0 0 Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2011 Namibia (assistant)
Source: ^[1]^[2]

He played club level rugby league for Dewsbury Rams (two spells), Featherstone Rovers, Wakefield Trinity and Hunslet Hawks as a hooker or loose forward, and coached representative level rugby league (RL) for Wales, and at club level for Dewsbury Rams, Widnes Vikings, Leigh Centurions, and coached representative level rugby union (RU) for Namibia (assistant), and at club level for Ulster Rugby (defence), and Doncaster Knights (assistant).

Coaching career

Leigh Centurions

On his return to England and Rugby League Neil spent two years as the Head Coach and then Director of Football at Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club, competing in the Co-Operative Rugby League Championship.^[3]

Ulster

Kelly spent two and a half years working as the defence coach for Ulster Rugby Union Club.^[4]

Widnes Vikings

Whilst at Widnes, the club won the Grand Final.^[5]

Dewsbury Rams

No promotion for Dewsbury after Grand Final win.^[6]

Cornwall RLFC

On 8 Dec 2021 it was announced that Neil had been appointed as head coach of new club Cornwall RLFC^[7]

On 24 October 2022 it was announced that Neil's assistant Mike Abbott had taken over as head coach by mutual consent.^[8]

Genealogical information

Neil Kelly is one of three brothers to play professional Rugby League, Andrew "Andy" Kelly who played for Wakefield Trinity, Hull Kingston Rovers and Illawarra Steelers (Australia), and Richard Kelly who played for Wakefield Trinity and Dewsbury.

References

1. "Neil Kelly - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
2. "Neil Kelly - Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org.
3. "sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news".
4. "irishrugby.ie/6855_4024.php".
5. Guardian Staff (29 July 2001). "Widnes show they are ready to assume rightful place". The Guardian.
6. "Dewsbury fear being denied promotion". The Independent. 30 July 2000. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
7. "Neil Kelly: Cornwall RLFC appoint ex-Widnes coach for inaugural season". BBC Sport. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
8. "Mike Abbott replaces Neil Kelly as Cornwall head coach". BBC Sport. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

External links

• 2011 Knights Coach Kelly aids RU World Cup Finals Team
• 2011 Kelly Coaches Namibian RU World Cup Team
• 2010 Kelly & Goulding Rally to Stricken Percivals Cause
• 2009 Roles Change at Leigh Centurions
• 2008 Kelly Joins Leigh
• 2005 Ulster Retain Coach Neil Kelly
• 2004 Super League Coach of the Year Joins Ulster RU
• 2004 Ulster Delighted to Secure Neil Kelly
• 2002 Welsh Coach Kelly Reappointed For New Zealand Challenge
• 2001 Kelly's Brave Wales Run England Close
• 2001 Neil Kelly Appointed as Wales Rugby Boss
• 2001 Kelly Steers Widnes to Grand Final Glory
• New Zealand 50 Wales 22 Cardiff
• Eaton drives Dewsbury to big pay day
• Dewsbury's import sent home
• Knights bring in Kelly
• Neil Kelly video
• Neil Kelly Audio Interview
• Neil Kelly Audio
• Neil Kelly on the Namibian job