Obituary: Jack Kelly shone among the stars

By D.J. CAMERON

If Jack Kelly, the All Black fullback who died on Monday morning, had just arrived on the international rugby scene, he would have been seen as a golden-haired all-round superstar.

Born in Ashburton, Kelly was a teenage field-events champion and played rugby for Canterbury in 1945, in his first year out of school.

He was a handsome six-footer of speed and classical style, a fine goalkicker and rivalled Bob Scott as an attacking fullback.

He played twice for New Zealand against Australia in 1949, and his speed, skill and goalkicking ability seemed to indicate a long and illustrious career at the top.

Unfortunately, Auckland in those days had Bob Scott and Bob Sorenson as fullbacks, and Kelly seemed to meander unhappily between playing fullback for the Auckland second XV and as a threequarter for Auckland A.

So much so that he told the Auckland selectors he was a fullback, and would only play there.

When Scott retired in late 1951, Kelly became the Auckland A fullback, and set a provincial record of 127 points in 1952. The following year Scott became available for the 1953-54 All Black tour of Britain and France. Scott and a Waikato youngster, Don Clarke, played in the first of 10 trials for the touring team, and Kelly languished while Les Head, Noel Bowden, Kevin Stuart and several other fullbacks paraded before the selectors.

Kelly eventually got a trial - the last. He played well, kicked a penalty and four conversions - and was in the touring side.

Scott was still the test star, but Kelly played 14 games, scored 94 points to Scott's 93, and as sound a critic as T.P. McLean said afterward that the pair were the best fullbacks he had seen in the 36 tour matches.

Kelly had one last year with Grammar Old Boys before resuming a distinguished teaching career which was to take him to the headmastership of Takapuna Grammar School.

Kelly, who was 75, is survived by daughters Nicola and Jenny and son Richard.