Bell first came to note as a rugby player when he was selected to represent Cambridge University, and won a
sporting Blue in 1894 when he represented the university in the Varsity match. In 1895 he was selected for invitational touring team
the Barbarians. In 1896 Bell was selected for
Johnny Hammond's British Isles team on the country's first official overseas tour. Although not chosen for the first test, he was selected for the second test against
South Africa, in Johannesburg. Bell replaced the Reverend
Matthew Mullineux and was partnered at halfback with
Louis Magee. The British Isles team won the second test, and Bell kept his place with Magee for the third and fourth tests. ==Notes==