Hugh C. Kelly

Hugh Cunningham Kelly (20 May 1849 – 13 November 1944) was an Irish international rugby union player.

Hugh Kelly

Full name	Hugh Cunningham Kelly
Date of birth	(1849-05-20)20 May 1849
Place of birth	Belfast, Ireland
Date of death	13 November 1944(1944-11-13) (aged 95)
Place of death	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1877–80 Ireland 6 (0)

Kelly was born in Belfast and attended Royal Belfast Academical Institution. He initially pursued his father's profession and qualified as a solicitor, but didn't end up practising. In 1873, Kelly was appointed Under-Sheriff of County Down.^[1]

A hefty forward, Kelly played his rugby for Belfast club North of Ireland and was capped six times for Ireland from 1877 to 1880, which included a period as team captain.^[2]

Kelly had a noted career as a sports administrator, serving as president of the Irish Lacrosse Union and on the Royal Ulster Yacht Club committee, in which capacity he was involved with Thomas Lipton's America's Cup challenges.^[3]

Married with no children, Kelly's wife was a daughter of politician Arthur Forwood.^[4]

See also

• List of Ireland national rugby union players