Dan Kelly Exclusive: ‘We don’t do complacency at our place’
Dan Kelly joined Leicester Tigers after time with Loughborough Students in BUCS and National 2 North
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Dan Kelly missed the Gallagher Premiership final last summer as a result of injury.
The inside centre instead had to watch on from the sidelines as Freddie Burns’ late drop goal saw Leicester Tigers beat Saracens 15-12 at Twickenham.
Now sat in one of the stadium’s many caverns at the Premiership’s launch event, he is still recovering following surgery but one of Leicester's most impressive players in 2021-22 is gearing up for another abrasive season of domestic rugby.
It has been two-and-a-half years since Kelly last spoke to TRU. In that time, he signed for the Tigers from Loughborough Students, played in a Challenge Cup final, earnt an England cap and has a Premiership winners’ medal to take care of for the rest of his life.
He has done things the hard way. Released by Sale Sharks at 18, turning to the university pathway and even plying his trade in National Two North from time to time, it has all contributed to him becoming one of Steve Borthwick’s most trusted lieutenants in the Tigers midfield.
Forming a formidable alliance with George Ford - who this summer has left Mattioli Woods Welford Road for pastures new at Sale Sharks - when he is given the all clear, Kelly will have some stern opposition to get back into a starting shirt.
Among a host of impressive recruits that will now call the East Midlands home, Borthwick has brought in Jimmy Gopperth from Wasps and Phil Cokanasiga from London Irish.
As much as each are versatile players, they will be vying for positions with Scotland’s Matt Scott, as well as the England duo of Guy Porter and Kelly.
“You look at teams in all sports who are successful, you look at Man City, they are always at the top of the league and are off to a flyer now, they have got such depth in their squad,” Kelly said.
“I think that is something we are trying to develop, and we have got depth all over the pitch in order to compete for those positions. I wouldn’t say the 12 jersey is mine at all. It is up for grabs every week and you have got to work for it and earn your jersey.
“That is the best thing about our club. You have got to work hard week in, week out and perform on the weekends.”
Despite his upbringing in Rochdale, Kelly soon reveals he is a Liverpool fan. It is a point of contention, with the team’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United just hours in the rear view mirror.
Kelly just laughs before telling me how he was kicked out of Cam Henderson’s house the night before, the Newcastle-supporting lock forward not thrilled with the 21-year-old’s celebrations after Fabio Carvalho’s late winner at Anfield.
“That was quite funny,” Kelly grinned.
Along with Ford’s departure to the North-West, key players in the form of club captain Ellis Genge and Argentine midfielder Matias Moroni have also joined other Premiership clubs.
While on duty for South Africa in the Rugby Championship, incoming fly-half Handre Pollard sustained a knee injury that could keep him from playing for six weeks and Anthony Watson limped off against Jersey Reds in a warm-up game at the end of August.
Even so, as the squad prepares to defend their Premiership crown – starting with a trip to Exeter Chiefs – there is little room for error at Oval Park.
“All you can do is your best,” Kelly said. “Complacency isn’t a thing at our place. No one is resting on their laurels and that is good for the environment.
“It develops everyone as individuals and as a collective. If you are developing as an individual, it can help us get results on the pitch. I think we are in a good place. But there is always room for improvement.”
Even the mere suggestion of Tigers improving is somewhat frightening. Last season, the team won 11 Premiership games on the trot, while also beginning their Champions Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup campaigns in a similarly dominant manner.
Likely to not be involved in the club’s opener on Saturday, Kelly, instead, has a simple mindset as to how he will be approaching his own personal bow into 2022-23.
“I need to get back from my injury alright,” he said. “It is going well. I will sort that out and get back in the team, if I can, then hopefully get into some good form. It is a big year for us all this year.
“It’s just step by step – as cliché as it is – day by day, week on week and hopefully that turns into getting in the squad and getting wins and performances done right in a Tigers shirt. I am looking forward to it. It should be a good year.”
Away from the cut and thrust of domestic action is Kelly’s hopes of playing for England. Earning his first cap for his country in July 2021 against Canada, he has watched on as many of his teammates have gone on to achieve international honours.
This, along with his already meteoric rise, is a huge cause for optimism. With the Autumn Nations Series and a Guinness Six Nations between the Rugby World Cup in France, Kelly is hoping to join his Leicester colleagues who are in contention.
“I just want to keep going, see how far I can go and see if I can fulfil my potential,” Kelly said. “The other thing is, the guys who I am around with my age, they are absolutely killing it.
“I am injured, but seeing Ollie Chessum, Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward and George Martin should be in the mix, Cam Henderson will probably be knocking on the door of Scotland soon, seeing them do so well, we all want to get to where they are. There is always improvements to be made for sure.”
