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Munster close in on Leicester and ex-England centre Dan Kelly
By Neil Fissler
Munster are closing in on a deal that will see them sign Leicester Tigers and England inside centre Dan Kelly, who is set to leave the Premiership club when his contract runs out at the end of the season.
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It was only a year ago that Munster tried to sign the former Ireland under-20 international, the Manchester-born midfielder who qualifies for Ireland via his Irish-born grandparents.
But the Tigers refused to release Kelly, who has made eight appearances this season, scoring one try, but has been told that his contract won’t be renewed when it runs out at the start of July.
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Kelly, 23, started his career in the Sale Sharks academy while he was at Kirkham Grammar School but left for Loughborough University after not being offered professional terms.
The Tigers spotted him and signed him up in April 2020, and just over a year later, in July 2021, weeks after playing in the European Challenge Cup final in a meteoric rise to fame, England capped him in a 70-14 slaughter of Canada.
He earned a call-up to England’s 2023 Six Nations squad after helping the Tigers win an 11th Premiership crown in 2022, but he didn’t add to his single cap, which would now open the door for him to switch his allegiances.
Earlier this season, the Sharks discussed a return to the North-West for him but opted not to move ahead with the move, and no other Premiership clubs also appeared to be interested in signing him either.
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Kelly can also operate as an outside centre and dabbled in rugby league with Wigan Warriors as a youngster and is now understood to be in advanced talks with Munster about a move to the United Rugby Championship.
He would also immediately qualify for selection by Andy Farrell, as it has been more than 36 months since England last capped him following a change in the rules introduced in January 2022.
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Great move for munster. wonder who will leave as sean o brien, tom farrell , rory scannell, alex nankivell and fionn gibbons coming through. probably nakivell as it would free up another niq spot
He played in an unbeaten Ireland U20 team in 6 nations 2020.
He got a bit of a name a couple of years ago but didn't kick on as hoped. Fresh start for him might be a good thing.
Waghorn at Quins would be a better bet to focus on for England for me. Hope he is on the Argentina tour.
waghorn hasn't started a single game for Quins so far! (excl. the premiership cup)
Seb Atkinson, Will Butt, Max Ojomoh, & Joe Woodward are likely to be ahead of him in the pecking order I think
"He earned a call-up to England’s 2023 Six Nations squad after helping the Tigers win an 11th Premiership crown in 2022, but he didn’t add to his single cap"
wasn't that just because he was injured? Kevin Sinfield seemed to strongly imply in the run up to the six nations that Kelly was in the running to start, so you have to wonder what might have been, especially given England's issues at 12 since then.