He played for Wellington, the Balmain Tigers, New South Wales and for both the New Zealand and Australian national sides.

Born in Westport, Kelly played first class rugby union for Buller when he was 18 and later represented Wellington.

No test matches were played with the Kiwis meeting New South Wales and Queensland and a number of regional sides.

[7] He made further representative appearances for New South Wales in 1915 and captain-coached an undefeated Balmain Tigers side to the club's first premiership victory in season 1915.

Kelly turned to coaching Sydney teams and guided the Balmain Tigers to the 1939 NSWRL premiership.

[11] Since 1997 Australia and New Zealand have contested the Bill Kelly Memorial Cup which is awarded to the winner of transtasman tests.