HAMILTON - McMaster University has announced Will Kelly as the next head coach of the Marauders men's rugby program.
 
"We are excited to have Will take over the men's rugby program after serving as an assistant coach last season," said Brittany Rumney, Manager, Competitive Sport Programs at McMaster. "Will is well connected in the rugby community and as a seasoned player, has a great depth of knowledge of the game. We are confident in his ability to lead our men's rugby program into the future."
 
Kelly, an Ancaster local, joined the Marauder coaching staff in August of 2023 as an Assistant Coach, after holding various coaching roles in both Ontario and the United Kingdom.
 
Beginning in 2019, he joined the coaching staff at Upright Rugby Academy. Since that time, he has coached teams ranging from U8 to U23. In 2022, Kelly took on a contract role as Head Coach of the U9 and U10 Boys teams at Ashfold School in the United Kingdom while playing for National League 1 side Chinnor RFC. A longstanding Assistant with Brantford Harlequins RFC, he helped lead the Senior Men to the 2023 McCormick Cup Championship, the club's fourth provincial championship in six seasons. Last year, Kelly added Assistant Coach for Rugby Ontario's U18 Women's Provincial Rugby Team to his extensive resume, a team that took home second place at the Western Championships. 
 
Will Kelly played at McMaster from 2016 to 2017 where he earned back-to-back OUA bronze medals in addition to a national bronze medal at the first-ever Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. He was the OUA Rookie of the Year in 2016 and was an OUA All-Star in both his seasons in the maroon and grey. Outside of McMaster, Kelly was recognized as the Rugby Ontario Junior Provincial of the Year in his rookie campaign. 
 
In addition to his time as a student-athlete with the Marauders, Kelly had the opportunity to live in the South of Wales, playing professionally with the Newport Dragons. A prior member of Rugby Canada's U20 Men's roster, he made his Senior Men's debut for Canada that season against Brazil in the Americas Rugby Championship.

The former Marauder represented the Toronto Arrows in their 2018 exhibition season before signing on for the 2020 Major League Rugby season where he stayed for three seasons. During his final campaign with the Arrows, Kelly appeared in 12 games while playing the most minutes of his career with his hometown team.

"I feel extremely honoured to have been chosen as the next Head Coach of the McMaster men's rugby program," said Kelly. "I'm excited to get to work with our current student-athletes and continue to strive to make the Marauders a provincial contender."

Kelly will assume the role of men's rugby head coach immediately.