Arthur Kelly (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Frederick Kelly was a rugby football
er who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
, was one of Wellington's most promising young talents and was renowned for his tackling abilities.
However when in Nelson
he was involved in a bet over his tackling skills. Kelly played a club game in Nelson and, winning the bet, received "liberal expenses". His form was so impressive that Nelson
selectors reportedly offered him a place in the teams Seddon Shield representative side. This led to the story of what had happened getting out and the New Zealand Rugby Union charged him with professionalism, which would have resulted in a lifetime ban from rugby union
. The charge could not be proven but instead he was found guilty of playing under an assumed name and was banned for three years. This left him eager to accept opportunities to play rugby elsewhere.
selected. He played in three test matches on the tour and scored the first try in the first ever rugby league
test match against Wales
, his only try of the tour.
He returned to New Zealand with the touring party but signed with St. Helens in December and returned to Great Britain. He was the Saints first ever overseas signing. He became a popular figure in St Helens and this led to the club signing another of the touring team, Hubert Turtill
.
Kelly later became the captain and player-coach of the "A" Team and led them to win the Lancashire Shield in 1913-14.
On the outbreak of War Kelly joined the Corps of Colonials in the British Army
. Kelly survived the War and lived out his later years in Oldham
. He died in Oldham in 1965.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
er who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
Rugby Football
Kelly, from the Petone Rugby ClubPetone Rugby Club
The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005...
, was one of Wellington's most promising young talents and was renowned for his tackling abilities.
However when in Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
he was involved in a bet over his tackling skills. Kelly played a club game in Nelson and, winning the bet, received "liberal expenses". His form was so impressive that Nelson
Nelson Rugby Union
Nelson Rugby Union was founded in 1885, and played provincial rugby until 1967 when they decided to merge with the Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union to create Nelson-Bays.-Nelson in Ranfurly Shield:...
selectors reportedly offered him a place in the teams Seddon Shield representative side. This led to the story of what had happened getting out and the New Zealand Rugby Union charged him with professionalism, which would have resulted in a lifetime ban from rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. The charge could not be proven but instead he was found guilty of playing under an assumed name and was banned for three years. This left him eager to accept opportunities to play rugby elsewhere.
Rugby League
As a result Kelly joined the professional All Blacks in their tour of Great Britain and Australia, ironically receiving the lifetime ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union that he had narrowly avoided earlier. He was one of six players from the Petone Rugby ClubPetone Rugby Club
The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005...
selected. He played in three test matches on the tour and scored the first try in the first ever rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
test match against Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, his only try of the tour.
He returned to New Zealand with the touring party but signed with St. Helens in December and returned to Great Britain. He was the Saints first ever overseas signing. He became a popular figure in St Helens and this led to the club signing another of the touring team, Hubert Turtill
Hubert Turtill
"Jum" Hurbert Sydney Turtill was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Early years:...
.
Kelly later became the captain and player-coach of the "A" Team and led them to win the Lancashire Shield in 1913-14.
On the outbreak of War Kelly joined the Corps of Colonials in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Kelly survived the War and lived out his later years in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
. He died in Oldham in 1965.
External links
- Arthur Kelly Saints Heritage Society, 17 August 2009.