Daniel Kelly (born 16 June 2001) is a professional rugby union player for Munster in the United Rugby Championship. Between 2020 and 2025 he played 98 times Leicester Tigers. His usual position is centre. Born in Manchester, England, Kelly represented Ireland Under 20s, before being capped for the national team in 2021. In 2025 he represented Ireland A, tying him to Ireland internationally permanently.
Kelly started playing rugby at under six years old for Rochdale RUFC, in Greater Manchester. He joined Kirkham Grammar School at 16 and was part of the Sale Sharks academy set up. Due to a number of other players considered more talented he was not offered a professional contract at 18 so joined Loughborough University.
On 10 April 2020 Kelly signed for Leicester Tigers, joining for the end of the delayed 2019-20 Premiership Rugby season. He made his debut as a substitute in a 46âÂÂ30 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm. He quickly became a regular starter at inside centre, and by April 2022 was being highlighted by teammates as a defence leader as Leicester prepared for a European Rugby Champions Cup round of 16 tie with Clermont Auvergne.
In February 2025, he signed a two-year contract with Munster in the United Rugby Championship ahead of the following season.
Kelly is eligible to play for both England, through birth, and Ireland, through his grandparents.
In 2020, he played for Ireland during the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, playing all three games of the tournament and scoring a try to win the Triple Crown before the tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 8 July 2021, Kelly has been selected to play for his first cap for England, and he made his international debut for on 10 July 2021 against at Twickenham. He was part of Leicester's championship winning team in the 2021âÂÂ22 Premiership Rugby season.