Super6 was short and sweet for Heriot’s coach Andy Kelly

Season called off just two games into his tenure with team in second place
Rory McMichael in action for Heriot’s, who were second in the Super6 when all rugby was stopped. Picture: Bill Murray/SNS/SRU)Rory McMichael in action for Heriot’s, who were second in the Super6 when all rugby was stopped. Picture: Bill Murray/SNS/SRU)
Rory McMichael in action for Heriot’s, who were second in the Super6 when all rugby was stopped. Picture: Bill Murray/SNS/SRU)

We rugby writers are clutching at straws a bit these days so I hope readers can forgive my opening question to 
Heriot’s coach Andrew Kelly. “How was the Super 6 for you?” and the obvious answer in return. “Brief”.

Kelly only took the reins of the Goldenacre’s Super 6 side in February after serving out his contract as assistant coach with the Hong Kong national team.

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Feet finally under the table back in his home city, he had only two matches in charge – a 24-21 defeat at rivals Watsonians on Valentine’s Day and a 26-15 home win over Ayrshire Bulls on 1 March.

Then, shutdown. It is a difficult moment for all in sport at the moment but former Stewart’s-Melville and Edinburgh hooker Kelly, who has the inevitable nickname “Ned” is trying to keep things positive and proud of the way the Goldenacre club has responded to this terrible moment for the country and wider world.

“It is so disappointing that the season has been ended like this but sport is not a big priority at the moment. Everyone is facing challenges here and it is what it is,” said Kelly.

The 37-year-old former age-grade and Scotland A cap said the entire club, including the now Heriot’s Blues club section, had responded well to the bleak turn of events.

Both the Super 6 side and the Blues, in second-tier National League 1, are effectively runners-up in their respective 
cut-short campaigns.

“At the moment we are all just trying to deal with it, like everyone is,” said Kelly.

“We have been having a lot of fun in WhatsApp group chat, not just the Super 6 boys but the whole club. The players have been split into groups of around 12 and all doing various challenges, which has been a good giggle. There will be prizes for the winners at 
the end.

“I’ve been keeping a close eye on them all. Of course, at the moment it’s all done individually but hopefully when the situation improves they can get together and do a few things in groups.”

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Long-time Heriot’s coach Phil Smith, who turned down the chance to be the Super 6 boss due to his job as a teacher, manned the ship for most of the season and will, when rugby resumes, take on a dual overseeing “director of coaching role” across the club.

In the meantime, Kelly has kept in touch with all the games from his Hong Kong base, where he first moved to in 2017 to play for Valley RFC.

In these strange times a club dinner of sorts took place at the weekend. On Zoom, of course, as 90 club members joined in from their kitchens, were entertained by appropriately-named local band Bleeker and money was raised for charity.

Ciaran Beattie was initially slated for the Heriot’s Super 6 job but was then handed the role of Scotland Sevens head coach. Smith declined the opportunity due to his job as Head of Sport at Glasgow High School and Kelly was lined up but first had to see out his 
commitments in Hong Kong.

Smith said: “I am going to be helping Andrew with the Super6 team – dipping in and out to assist as required – while at the same time heading up the Blues [Club XV] coaching team in their push for promotion from National One to the Premiership.

“I know the club as well as anyone, and I know my way around the Scottish club game as well.”

Smith won two league titles and two Scottish Cups in his eight seasons in charge at Goldenacre.

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