Dean Bell
Encyclopedia
Dean Bell is a New Zealand
former rugby league
footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan
, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup
finals, a Lance Todd Trophy
and a Man of Steel Award. He later coached English club Leeds
for two seasons. He is a member of the famous Bell rugby league family that includes George, Ian, Cameron
and Cathy,Glenn Bell Kurtis Dean Bell and Clayton Friend
.
in the Auckland Rugby League
competition.
Bell then moved to England in August 1982, playing for Carlisle
and Leeds
over the next two seasons. At the end of the 1983/84 season he joined Eastern Suburbs
in Australia, playing 42 games for them over the next three seasons.
In 1987 Bell was a guest player for the South Island
in a match against Auckland.
In 1986 he joined Wigan
, where he was to experience his greatest success. While at Wigan, Bell became a Seven-time Challenge Cup
winner (including three as captain), a Six-time Rugby Football League Championship winner, a One-time World Sevens winner, a Five-time John Player Trophy
winner, a Two-time RFL Premiership
winner and a Four-time Lancashire Cup
winner. During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Bell played at centre for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
.
Bell also won the Man of Steel
award in 1992 and the Lance Todd Trophy
in 1993. Bell was later inducted into the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame.
In 1995 Bell left Wigan, returning home to join coach John Monie
at the new Auckland Warriors club. Bell became the Club's first captain and led the team out in their inaugural match.
During his career he captained Wigan
, the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand national team.
competition Bell made the Auckland side
. In 1983 he toured England with the New Zealand Māori
team before making his debut for New Zealand that same year. In his debut match he played alongside his uncle Ian Bell and his cousin Clayton Friend
. He went on to play 26 tests for his country, retiring from international football early in 1989.
Bell picked up several honours while playing for his country, including being the NZRL Player of the Year in 1987 and winning the NZ Māori Sports Personality of the Year in 1994. He was later made a member of the NZRL's Immortals and inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League in 2000. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Immortal.
During the 2000 World Cup
he was the assistant Coach of the Aotearoa Māori
side, working under his dad Cameron Bell
.
In 2000 he returned to Wigan
to head the youth development programme for seven years before being appointed the New Zealand Warriors
Development Manager in August 2007.
Bell became the manager for the Warriors Under-20's side in the Toyota Cup and at the end of the 2009 season Bell was promoted by the Warriors to be their new Recruitment and Development Manager.
In 2008 Bell was made the New Zealand Kiwis football manager.
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
finals, a Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
and a Man of Steel Award. He later coached English club Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
for two seasons. He is a member of the famous Bell rugby league family that includes George, Ian, Cameron
Cameron Bell (rugby league)
Cameron Bell is a New Zealand rugby league coach. He is a member of the famous Bell rugby league family that includes George, Ian, Dean and Cathy and Clayton Friend.-Coaching career:...
and Cathy,Glenn Bell Kurtis Dean Bell and Clayton Friend
Clayton Friend
Clayton Ivan Friend is a New Zealander former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who at representative level has played for New Zealand, and at club level for Carlisle , North Sydney Bears, and Whitehaven, playing at /, i.e...
.
Playing career
Bell began his career in 1979 playing for the Manukau MagpiesManukau Magpies
The Manukau Magpies are a rugby league football club based in Manukau, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. The club was established in 1910.-History:...
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition.
Bell then moved to England in August 1982, playing for Carlisle
Carlisle RLFC
Carlisle RLFC were a rugby league team based in Carlisle, Cumbria.-Early rugby league in Carlisle:Carlisle City, based at Harraby Greyhound Stadium close to Gillford Park, were admitted to the Northern Rugby Football Union for the 1928-29 season. They withdrew on November 8, 1928 after only ten...
and Leeds
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
over the next two seasons. At the end of the 1983/84 season he joined Eastern Suburbs
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in Australia, playing 42 games for them over the next three seasons.
In 1987 Bell was a guest player for the South Island
South Island rugby league team
The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
in a match against Auckland.
In 1986 he joined Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, where he was to experience his greatest success. While at Wigan, Bell became a Seven-time Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
winner (including three as captain), a Six-time Rugby Football League Championship winner, a One-time World Sevens winner, a Five-time John Player Trophy
John Player Trophy
The John Player Trophy was a golf tournament on the European Tour that was played in England. It was only played twice, the first in 1970 at Notts Golf Club in Nottinghamshire, and again in 1972 at Bognor Regis Golf Club in West Sussex.-Winners:...
winner, a Two-time RFL Premiership
Rugby League Premiership
The Rugby League Premiership was a competition for British rugby league clubs that operated between 1973 and 1995. As the Super League Premiership the competition continued to operate until 1997....
winner and a Four-time Lancashire Cup
Lancashire Cup
There are many Lancashire Cup competitions.In particular:-* The Lancashire Senior Cup, an association football competition.* The Lancashire Cup, one of the Rugby league county cups played from 1905 to 1993.* The Lancashire Cup ....
winner. During the 1992–93 Rugby Football League season Bell played at centre for defending RFL champions Wigan in the 1992 World Club Challenge
1992 World Club Challenge
The 1992 World Club Challenge match was contested by the 1991–92 Rugby Football League season champions Wigan and the 1992 NSWRL season's premiers, the Brisbane Broncos...
against the visiting Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
.
Bell also won the Man of Steel
Man of Steel
Man of Steel may refer to:* Superman, the comic book superhero, whom the nickname "The Man of Steel" commonly refers to** The Man of Steel , a six-issue comic book limited series about Superman released in 1986 by DC Comics...
award in 1992 and the Lance Todd Trophy
Lance Todd Trophy
The Lance Todd Trophy is awarded to the Man-of-the-Match in rugby league football's Challenge Cup Final.The trophy was introduced in 1946, in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was killed in a road accident during the Second World War...
in 1993. Bell was later inducted into the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame.
In 1995 Bell left Wigan, returning home to join coach John Monie
John Monie
John Monie is a former professional rugby league coach and player. He is probably best known for his coaching career where he won premierships in both Australia and England.-Playing career:...
at the new Auckland Warriors club. Bell became the Club's first captain and led the team out in their inaugural match.
During his career he captained Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand national team.
Representative career
While playing in the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition Bell made the Auckland side
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
. In 1983 he toured England with the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
team before making his debut for New Zealand that same year. In his debut match he played alongside his uncle Ian Bell and his cousin Clayton Friend
Clayton Friend
Clayton Ivan Friend is a New Zealander former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s who at representative level has played for New Zealand, and at club level for Carlisle , North Sydney Bears, and Whitehaven, playing at /, i.e...
. He went on to play 26 tests for his country, retiring from international football early in 1989.
Bell picked up several honours while playing for his country, including being the NZRL Player of the Year in 1987 and winning the NZ Māori Sports Personality of the Year in 1994. He was later made a member of the NZRL's Immortals and inducted as one of the NZRL's Legends of League in 2000. He is an Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
Immortal.
Coaching and Management career
Bell returned to Leeds in 1996 as coach but ended up playing in one match as player-coach. He remained the first grade coach in 1997 before accepting a two year job as the head of the Academy team.During the 2000 World Cup
2000 Rugby League World Cup
The 2000 Rugby League World Cup was the twelfth staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was held during October and November of that year in Great Britain, Ireland and France...
he was the assistant Coach of the Aotearoa Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
side, working under his dad Cameron Bell
Cameron Bell (rugby league)
Cameron Bell is a New Zealand rugby league coach. He is a member of the famous Bell rugby league family that includes George, Ian, Dean and Cathy and Clayton Friend.-Coaching career:...
.
In 2000 he returned to Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
to head the youth development programme for seven years before being appointed the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
Development Manager in August 2007.
Bell became the manager for the Warriors Under-20's side in the Toyota Cup and at the end of the 2009 season Bell was promoted by the Warriors to be their new Recruitment and Development Manager.
In 2008 Bell was made the New Zealand Kiwis football manager.
Other achievements
Bell was also the feature of an episode of the show This is Your LifeThis Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
.
External links
- Dean Bell Wigan Playing Career Page on the Wigan RL Fansite.
- Dean Bell Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Profile at leedsrugby.co.uk