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Irish-qualified England international Dan Kelly joins Munster

Dan Kelly of England during the England against Canada Summer International at Twickenham Stadium on July 10, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)

Leicester Tigers centre Dan Kelly has signed for Munster ahead of next season, as reported by RugbyPass.

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The 23-year-old has spent the last five years at Welford Road, racking up 91 appearances to date after joining from Loughborough University.

Less than a year after his Tigers debut, he made his first England appearance against Canada under Eddie Jones, which remains his only Test cap so far.

However, the former Ireland U20 international now qualifies to switch allegiance to represent the reigning Six Nations champions through his grandparents. Having already completed the required three-year stand-down period before switching nations, Kelly will be eligible to represent Ireland from next season.

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Kelly will reunite with some of his former Ireland age grade team-mates at Munster, including current internationals Jack Crowley and Tom Ahern.

The 2022 United Rugby Championship winners tried to sign the centre last year, but the Tigers refused to let him leave. However, with his contract expiring in July, Munster have pounced in a move that will allow the Manchester-born player to reignite his Test career.

“Dan is a great member of our club and, while we will farewell him properly at the end of his time at the club, we wish him all the very best with this next chapter in his career in Ireland,” said Leicester general manager Richard Wilks.

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“Since joining us from Loughborough University he has been totally committed and professional in everything he does for the team which will continue for the rest of his time with us.”

Leicester, meanwhile, have been linked with former England captain Owen Farrell, who could be in line for a shock return to the Gallagher Premiership after only a season with Racing 92 in the Top 14. Though primarily a fly-half, the England great would be able to fill the void left by Kelly in the Leicester midfield should he agree a move.

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1 Comment
R
RedWarrior 152 days ago

Good signing for Munster after losing the excellent Anton Frisch in the medium term.

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takata 1 hour ago
Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Sure a break is better than no break at all - but to use the same analogy as before, it’s like refilling a car with gas but not giving it a good service.

But, here, I’m just answering what it’s so hard for you to see, as you wrote above: “Overall, it is very hard to see what France is gaining in the player welfare equation. It is simply replacing one set of overworked players with another.”


And for me, the gain in the player welfare equation is certainly obvious and I wonder how you could have missed it. Or maybe you’re more a Polemist than a real Analyst?


The third Test is 19 July, round one of Top 14 2025-26 first weekend of September. Probably a month of pre-season in August with three warm-up games. Where is the off-season for players to recover properly?


In the NFL they have 7 months.

Yeah right!

The NFL is also distributing contracts worth $210.000.000+ for 4 years… In Top 14, Dupont was paid a yearly €480.000 (brut) by Toulouse while F. Russell was offered £1.000.000 with Bath. Consequently, I really fail to see how anything NFL is relevant with rugby, but you already know that.


Beside, La Section Paloise already started its pre-season (today) and the number of warm-up games would range from 0 - 2 (mostly 1). For the bulk, after five weeks, the restart is next week as their last game was on 7 June. The break is shorter than 6 weeks for their staff and those players who were not involved in their last game.


Last season ranking. Club -> date restart (break weeks)

08. Pau (SP) -> 9 July (~ 4w)

00. Montauban (USM Sapiac) -> 14 July (> Pro D2)

07. La Rochelle (SR) -> 14 July (~ 5w)

12. Paris (SF) -> 15 July (~ 5w)

11. Lyon (LOU) -> 15 July (~ 5w)

10. Racing 92 -> 15 July (~ 5w)

13. Perpignan (USAP) -> 16 July (~ 5w)

09. Montpellier (MHR) -> 16 July (~ 5w)

06. Clermont (ASM) -> 21 July (~ 5w)

05. Castres (CO) -> 21 July (~ 5w)

04. Bayonne (AB) -> 28 July (~ 5w)

03. Toulon (RCT) -> 28 July (~ 5w)

02. Bordeaux (UBB) -> 6 August (~ 5w)

01. Toulouse (ST) -> 4-11 August (~ 5-6w)


If Attissogbe (from Pau) is also playing the 19 July test (very doubtful), he will be back from holliday on 1 September (6 weeks later). No matter what, he is going to miss several rounds of Top 14.


(…) three-Test series in NZ is not ‘friendly’. It is a serious opportunity to prove you can beat one of the best nations in history in their own backyard.

You can also repeat it a million time but it won’t change the fact that those summer tests are the lowest priority on the FFR agenda. It’s a shame, it’s not going to change - even if they rename the window something else, but it’s for good reasons in my humble opinion.

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