Robert William Bell
Encyclopedia
Robert William Bell was an English
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University
and Northern
. Bell played international rugby for England
.
before matriculating to Jesus College, Cambridge
in 1896. 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). 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.
. 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. Bell played in his first Varsity match in 1897, which Cambridge lost two tries to nil. 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
. 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 invitational touring team, the Barbarians
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward who played club rugby for Cambridge University
Cambridge University R.U.F.C.
The Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, or CURUFC, is the rugby union club of Cambridge University, and plays Oxford University in the annual Varsity Match at Twickenham stadium every December. CURUFC players wear light blue and white hooped jerseys with a red lion crest...
and Northern
Northern Football Club
Northern Football Club are a rugby union club that was founded in 1875, and are based in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Their strip is coloured navy Blue, Red and White...
. Bell played international rugby for England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
.
Personal history
Bell was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1875 to John Robinson Bell. He was educated at Durham SchoolDurham School
Durham School, headmaster Martin George , is an independent British day and boarding school for boys and girls in Durham....
before matriculating to Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
in 1896. 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
Benwell
Benwell is an area in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne, England.-History:Benwell village was recorded in A.D. 1050 known as Bynnewalle which roughly translates as "behind the wall" or "by the wall". Referring to its position relative to Hadrian's Wall...
(1901–06), Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
(1906–07), Whittingham
Whittingham, Northumberland
Whittingham is a village in the English County of Northumberland.In the village is Whittingham Tower, a pele tower dating from the thirteenth or fourteenth century, converted into almshouses in 1845, and now in private ownership.- Governance :...
(1907–08), Christchurch (1908–11) and St. Andrews (1911–15). In 1915 he was made perpetual curate
Perpetual curate
A Perpetual Curate was a clergyman of the Church of England officiating as parish priest in a small or sparsely peopled parish or districtAs noted below the term perpetual was not to be understood literally but was used to indicate he was not a curate but the parish priest and of higher...
of St. Hilda's in Darlington, a position he held until 1931, his longest post. In 1931 he became vicar of Stamfordham, Northumberland.
Rugby career
Bell came to note as a rugby player when he represented Cambridge University, playing in three Varsity MathcesThe Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
. His first season with Cambridge began well, though when he suffered a shoulder injury in the December game against Cardiff
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
, his team lost the match they were leading before he left the field. Bell played in his first Varsity match in 1897, which Cambridge lost two tries to nil. 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
1900 Home Nations Championship
The 1900 Home Nations Championship was the eighteenth series of the rugby union Home Nations Championship. Six matches were played between 6 January and 17 March. It was contested by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.-Table:-Results:...
. 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
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
, but lost the match 13-3. Despite the loss, Bell was reselected for the next match, played against Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
. Bell had a good match and led the dribble which enabled Tot Robinson
Tot Robinson
Tot Robinson was a rugby union international who represented England from 1897 to 1901.-Rugby union career:Robinson made his international debut on Feb 6, 1897 at Lansdowne Road in the Ireland vs England match....
to score his second try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
. 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
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
. The game ended in a scoreless draw, which allowed the Scots to retain the Calcutta Cup
Calcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
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 invitational touring team, the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
.