Robert Kelly

Robert Kelly (1927 – January 2003) was an Irish professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, and coached in the 1960s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Other Nationalities, and at club level for Keighley, Wakefield Trinity (captain 1956–57 season), and Batley, as a , or , and coached at club level for Batley.

Early life Kelly was born in 1927 in Tullamore, Ireland. He served in the British Army towards the end of the Second World War, and later joined the military police. After he was demobbed, Kelly settled in Keighley, England, where his sister also lived. He played association football and Gaelic football for a local team before being persuaded to give rugby league a try. He was transferred to Wakefield Trinity in January 1953 in exchange for Harry Murphy.

Kelly played left- and was captain in Wakefield Trinity's 23-5 victory over Hunslet in the 1956–57 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1956–57 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1956 in front of a crowd of 31,147, and played left- in the 20-24 defeat by Leeds in the 1958–59 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1958–59 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 18 October 1958.

Kelly played left- in Wakefield Trinity’s 17–12 victory over Australia in the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France match at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Monday 10 December 1956.

International honours Kelly won caps for Other Nationalities while at Wakefield Trinity in 1955 against England, and France,

Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill, Gordon Haynes, Keith Holliday, William "Billy" Ivison, John McKeown, George Parsons and Edward "Ted" Slevin, Bob Kelly's only Great Britain appearance came against France prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the Rugby Football League, and consequently caps were not awarded.