Former GB & Wales international rugby league footballer

Kelvin Skerrett (born 22 May 1966) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Hunslet, Bradford Northern, Western Suburbs Magpies, Wigan and the Halifax Blue Sox, as prop or second-row, and coached at club level for Oulton Raiders ARLFC, and Methley Royals ARLFC.

Background

Skerrett was born in Middleton, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

Skerrett was a Wales international and played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. He played for Wigan from 1990 to 1996, a successful period for that team, making 176 appearances (including 21 substitute appearances) and scoring 21 tries, and was named among BBC sports commentator Ray French's best Wigan XIII. During the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season, he played for defending champions Wigan as a prop in their 1991 World Club Challenge victory against the visiting Penrith Panthers. He was selected to go on the 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand. During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season he played from the bench in Great Britain's loss to Australia in the World Cup Final at Wembley. Skerrett also played at prop for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge against the visiting Brisbane Broncos.

Skerrett played left-second-row in Bradford Northern's 12–12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, played left-second-row in the 11–2 victory over Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987, played left-prop in the 20–14 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1989 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1989–90 season at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 5 November 1989, and played left-prop in Wigan's 5–4 victory over St. Helens in the 1992 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1992–93 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Sunday 18 October 1992.

Skerrett played left-prop in Wigan's 2–33 defeat by Castleford in the 1993–94 Regal Trophy Final during the 1993–94 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 22 January 1994, and played left-prop in the 40–10 victory over Warrington in the 1994–95 Regal Trophy Final during the 1994–95 season at Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield on Saturday 28 January 1995.

Post playing

After his playing career ended, Skerrett coached at British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) Oulton Raiders ARLFC. He was later appointed Head Coach of new amateur rugby league club Methley Royals in 2009, to stand in for Tony Handforth, who had suffered a stroke. Handforth later returned to take back his job.