{{Short description|English rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Use British English|date=August 2013}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Robert Bell | image = | caption = | birth_name = Robert William Bell | birth_date = {{birth date|1875|12|19|df=y}} | birth_place = Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1950|6|9|1875|12|19|df=yes}} | death_place = Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England | height = | weight = | position = Forward | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = Cambridge University R.U.F.C. | amatteam2 = Blackheath F.C. | amatteam3 = Northern Football Club | amatteam4 = Barbarian F.C. | ru_amclubcaps = | ru_amclubpoints = | ru_amupdate = | repteam1 = England | repyears1 = 1900 | repcaps1 = 3 | reppoints1 = 0 | ru_ntupdate = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = | occupation = Anglican priest | school = Durham School | university = Jesus College, Cambridge }}
'''Robert William Bell''' (19 December 1875 – 9 June 1950)<ref>[http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/1396.html Robert Bell player profile] Scrum.com</ref> was an English international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University and Northern. Bell played international rugby for England.
==Personal history== Bell was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1875 to John Robinson Bell. He was educated at Durham School before matriculating to Jesus College, Cambridge in 1896.<ref name=Venn>{{acad|id=BL896RW|name=Bell, Robert William}}</ref> He received his BA in 1899, and in 1901 he entered the church when he was ordained as a deacon. The following year he was ordained as a priest at Newcastle. Bell took a number of positions in the Anglican church, and was Curate of Benwell (1901–06), Alnwick (1906–07), Whittingham (1907–08), Christchurch (1908–11) and St. Andrews (1911–15).<ref name=Venn/> In 1915 he was made perpetual curate of St. Hilda's in Darlington, a position he held until 1931, his longest post. In 1931 he became vicar of Stamfordham, Northumberland.<ref name=Venn/>
==Rugby career== Bell came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University, playing in three Varsity Matches. His first season with Cambridge began well, though when he suffered a shoulder injury in the December game against Cardiff, his team lost the match they were leading before he left the field.<ref>Marshall (1958), pg 96. Note, Marshall states that Bell broke his collar bone in the game against Cardiff, but D.E. Davies in ''Cardiff Rugby Club: History and Statistics 1876–1975'' records the Cardiff Cambridge game on 1897 took place on 1 December, (pg 281) just a few weeks before the Varsity Match. It is probably doubtful he would have recovered from a broken collarbone in that time.</ref> Bell played in his first Varsity match in 1897, which Cambridge lost two tries to nil.<ref>Marshall (1958), pg 97.</ref> Bell played in the next two Varsity encounters with Oxford University, both of these matches were wins for Cambridge.
In 1900, just a few weeks after the successful 1899 Varsity Match, Bell was selected to represent the England national team in the opening game of the 1900 Home Nations Championship. The England team contained just two players with any prior international experience, and the eight members of the pack, which included Bell, were all first caps. In the opening game England played at home against Wales, but lost the match 13–3. Despite the loss, Bell was reselected for the next match, played against Ireland. Bell had a good match and led the dribble which enabled Tot Robinson to score his second try.<ref>{{cite book |last=Griffiths |first=John|title=The Book of English International Rugby 1872–1982 |year=1982 |publisher=Willow Books |location=London|page=85 |isbn=0002180065}}</ref> England finished comfortable winners, and Bell returned for his third and final international for England in the last English match of the Championship, against Scotland. The game ended in a scoreless draw, which allowed the Scots to retain the Calcutta Cup as the current holders.
After leaving Cambridge, Bell continued to play rugby, and turned out for both Blackheath and Northern, and in the 1897/98 season was selected for the invitational touring team, the Barbarians.<ref>{{cite book |last=Starmer-Smith |first=Nigel |title=The Barbarians |year=1977 |publisher=Macdonald & Jane's Publishers|page=218 |isbn=0-86007-552-4}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Howard |author2=Jordon, J.P. |title=Oxford v Cambridge, The Story of the University Rugby Match |year=1951 |publisher=Clerke & Cockeran|location=London }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Robert William}} Category:1875 births Category:1950 deaths Category:English rugby union players Category:Rugby union forwards Category:Rugby union players from Newcastle upon Tyne Category:England international rugby union players Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players Category:Barbarian F.C. players Category:Blackheath F.C. players Category:People educated at Durham School Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge Category:20th-century English Anglican priests Category:Rugby union players from Darlington Category:People from Stamfordham Category:Rugby union players from Northumberland Category:Northumberland RFU players