John Kelly (rugby, born 1917)

For the rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s for Ireland, and Munster, see John Kelly (rugby union).

John Kelly

Personal information
Full name	John Kelly
Born	Leeds, England
Died	unknown
Playing information
Rugby union
Position	Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P ≤1938–38 Bramley Old Boys RUFC
Rugby league
Position	Fullback, Wing
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1938–≥41 Leeds 83 1941 St. Helens 1 Total 84 0 0 0 0
Source: leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk

John "Jack" Kelly (birth unknown – death unknown) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Bramley Old Boys RUFC, as a Fullback, i.e. number 15, and club level rugby league (RL) for Leeds and St. Helens (one match when a man short) as a fullback, or wing, i.e. number 1, or 2 or 5.

Leeds career

On Saturday 24 December 1938 Leeds played Salford at Headingley Rugby Stadium. However, because the rugby pitch was frozen, the match was switched to the cricket field. Vic Hey scored the only try of the match, and Jack Kelly became the only player to ever kick a goal on the cricket pitch in a 5-0 win. He spent most of his career at Leeds behind Charles "Charlie" Eaton for the fullback position, but he still managed to play in 83 matches, mainly during the Emergency Leagues throughout World War II. On Saturday 6 December 1941 Leeds played St. Helens at Headingley Stadium, the St. Helens team was a man short, so Jack Kelly played as a stand-in left wing for them.

Note

Someone named Jack Kelly played rugby league for Wests and North Sydney during the 1920s and 1930s, and someone named J Kelly played rugby league for Newtown Bluebags during the 1940s; however, these footballers are unlikely to be this Jack Kelly.

External links

• Search for "Kelly" at rugbyleagueproject.org
• (archived by web.archive.org) Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk
• Profile at saints.org.uk