Former Hull KR man appointed Huddersfield Giants’ new director of rugby

Huddersfield Giants have appointed Andy Kelly as their new director of rugby heading into the 2025 Super League season.

Kelly has been with the Giants since joining the club in 2014 as the club’s head of youth development, overseeing their academy teams and structures. However, he has now been promoted to the director of role at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The position will see him work closely with head coach Luke Robinson and report to the board of directors, and given the title of role, he is expected to have a big say in recruitment, playing style and personnel moving forwards.

Kelly is a former England international and counts Wakefield Trinity and Hull KR as his former clubs as a player. Since calling time on his playing days, the 64-year-old has coached Wakefield, Gateshead Thunder, Featherstone Rovers, Dewsbury Rams and Ireland, while he has also held a coaching role with the England Academy team.

“I am honoured and excited to be asked to take on the role of director of rugby at a time of change for the Huddersfield Giants,” Kelly told the Huddersfield website. “I have a very good relationship with Luke Robinson and I am fully aligned with the values, vision, and ambition we have for the Huddersfield Giants.

“I would like to thank Ken Davy for offering me this opportunity and will work with everyone to bring success to the Giants.”

Head coach Robinson added: “I again thank Ken and the board for backing my view that this position will work well for us and there’s definitely no one better qualified than Andy to do this.

“He’s already been a great help to me and the coaching team and someone who I trust and respect enormously.”

Kelly has taken up the role with immediate effect and will get to work as the Giants prepare themselves for the start of the 2025 campaign.