{{Short description|Spain international rugby union player (born 1990)}} {{Use South African English|date=January 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = JW Bell | image =File:John-Wessel Bell 2024.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|01|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.75}} | weight = {{convert|80|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | school = Eldoraigne High School | university = University of Pretoria | position = Full-Back / Wing | currentclub = Cape Town Harlequins RC | youthyears1 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Pumas}} | years1 = 2011–2012 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Falcons}} | apps1 = 29 | points1 = 60 | years2 = 2013–2015 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Pumas}} | apps2 = 55 | points2 = 95 | years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps3 = 2 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2015-2016 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps4 = 1 | points4 = 5 | years5 = 2016–2022 | clubs5 = Valladolid RAC | apps5 = 36 | points5 = 144 | years6 = 2022–2025 | clubs6 = CR El Salvador | apps6 = | points6 = | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Cape Town Harlequins RC | apps7 = | points7 = | clubupdate = 17 February 2026 | repyears1 = 2019– | repteam1 = Spain | repcaps1 = 30 | reppoints1 = 40 | repupdate = 17 February 2026 |birth_name=John-Wessel Bell|caption=Bell with Spain in 2024}}
'''John-Wessel Bell''' (born 18 January 1990) is a professional rugby union player who plays for Cape Town Harlequins RC. Born in South Africa, he played for the Spain national rugby union team.<ref name="SARU Player Profile JW Bell">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=50079 | name=JW Bell | date=4 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Mbombela Stadium finally home of the Pumas">{{cite web | work=sportunplugged.co.za | url=http://sportunplugged.co.za/index.php/component/content/article/2-uncategorised/41-mbombela-stadium-finally-home-of-the-pumas | title=Mbombela Stadium finally home of the Pumas |access-date=8 April 2013}}</ref>
Bell is a utility back who can play as a full-back, wing or fly-half.
He was a member of the Pumas side that won the Vodacom Cup for the first time in 2015, beating {{Rut|Western Province}} 24–7 in the final.<ref name="Steval Pumas first-time Vodacom Cup champions – Final Review">{{cite web| title=Steval Pumas first-time Vodacom Cup champions – Final Review | date=31 May 2015 | access-date=9 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609204339/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/vodacomcup&id=3030244 | url-status=dead | archive-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> Bell made seven appearances during the season, scoring one try.
He signed a contract to join Johannesburg-based side the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} prior to the 2016 season.<ref name="Stefan Watermeyer verruil Pumas vir Kings, Leeus gaps JW Bell">{{cite web | url=http://www.netwerk24.com/sport/rugby/2015-10-07-stefan-watermeyer-verruil-pumas-vir-kings-leeus-gaps-jw-bell | title=Stefan Watermeyer verruil Pumas vir Kings, Leeus gaps JW Bell | work=Netwerk24 | date=7 October 2015 | access-date=8 October 2015 | language=af}}</ref>
After the 2016 Currie Cup, Bell played for Spanish División de Honor side Valladolid until 2022, when he signed for the city's rival team, CR El Salvador.<ref name="El zaguero sudafricano John-Wessel Bell, nueva pieza para el VRAC 2016/2017">{{cite press release | url=http://www.valladolidrac.com/contenido.php?art_id=7139 | title=El zaguero sudafricano John-Wessel Bell, nueva pieza para el VRAC 2016/2017 | publisher=Valladolid RAC | date=4 December 2016 | access-date=9 January 2017 | language=es}}</ref><ref name="Ficha Federado">{{cite web | url=http://ferugby.habitualdata.com/FerFichaFederado.aspx?idFederado=10142 | title=Ficha Federado | work=Federación Española de Rugby | access-date=9 January 2017 | language=es}}</ref>
==International career== On 23 November 2019, he made his debut for h the Spanish National Team in a test match against Hong Kong in the National Stadium Complutense.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2019 |title=España gana con claridad a Hong Kong en su último encuentro amistoso del año |url=https://www.marca.com/rugby/2019/11/23/5dd96be446163f0f8d8b45cd.html |access-date=29 January 2020 |website=Marca.com |language=es}}</ref>
He represented Spain in several editions of the Rugby Europe International Championships and the qualifiers for the World Cups in 2023 and 2027, where Spain qualified after beating the Netherlands and Switzerland. He announced his international retirement on 18 February 2025 aged 35, having won 25 official caps and scoring 40 points.<ref>{{Cite web |date= 18 February 2025 |title=JOHN-WESSEL BELL OFICIALIZA SU RENUNCIA A LA SELECCIÓN ESPAÑOLA |url=https://ferugby.es/john-wessel-bell-oficializa-su-renuncia-a-la-seleccion-espanola/ |website=FERugby.es |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2025 |title=John-Wessel Bell anuncia su retirada de la selección española |url=https://www.marca.com/rugby/2025/02/18/john-wessel-bell-anuncia-retirada-seleccion-espanola.html |website=Marca.com |language=es}}</ref>
On June 6, 2025, his departure from CR El Salvador of the División de Honor rugby team was announced, to return to his homeland, South Africa, signing for Cape Town Harlequins RC.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.rugbyelsalvador.com/john-wessel-bell-y-brad-leuila-no-seguiran-en-el-inexo-el-salvador-la-proxima-temporada/|title= JOHN WESSEL-BELL Y BRAD LEUILA NO SEGUIRÁN EN EL INEXO EL SALVADOR LA PRÓXIMA TEMPORADA|date=6 June 2025| website=El Salvador Rugby|language=es}}</ref> After leaving the Valladolid team, he asked the Spanish Rugby Federation to revoke his resignation from joining the Spanish national team, claiming that the family problems he was facing had been resolved.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://ferugby.es/john-wessel-bell-pide-revocar-su-renuncia-a-la-seleccion-espanola/|title= John Wessel Bell pide revocar su renuncia a la Selección Española|date=11 June 2025| website=Ferugby.es|language=es}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, J. W.}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:South African rugby union players Category:South African emigrants to Spain Category:Pumas (Currie Cup) players Category:Valke (rugby union) players Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:Rugby union players from Cape Town Category:Valladolid RAC players Category:CR El Salvador players Category:South African people of Spanish descent Category:Spanish people of South African descent Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in Spain Category:Spain international rugby union players Category:21st-century South African sportsmen Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen