Sydney Pyman Bell (19 December 1875 – 23 December 1944) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...

halfback and solicitor. Bell played club rugby for

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

and Northern and played international rugby for the British Isles XV in their 1896 tour of South Africa.

Personal history

Bell was born in

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the la ...

in 1875 to Thomas Bell and Mary Ann Moore and was educated at

Uppingham School Uppingham School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school for pupils 13-18) in Uppingham, Rutland, England, founded in 1584 by Robert Johnson, the Archdeacon of Leicester, who also established Oakham School. The headm ...

before graduating to

King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the cit ...

in 1894. He received his BA in 1894 and in 1901 he was admitted as a solicitor. He received the MA from King's College in February the following year. Although practicing as a solicitor, Bell eventually became the Assistant District Manager of Martins Bank for the North Eastern District, before retiring in 1922. He married Constance Jane Laing in 1907 and had two daughters.

Rugby career

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.Starmer-Smith, Nigel ''The Barbarians'' Macdonald & Jane's Publishers (1977) pg. 218 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 South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

, in Johannesburg. Bell replaced the Reverend

Matthew Mullineux Matthew Mullineux MC (8 August 1867 – 13 February 1945) was an English rugby union scrum-half who, although not capped for England, was selected for two British Lions tours. He gained one cap during the 1896 tour to South Africa and c ...

and was partnered at halfback with

Louis Magee Aloysius Mary "Louis" Magee (1 May 1874 – 4 April 1945) was an Irish rugby union halfback. Magee played club rugby for Bective Rangers and London Irish and played international rugby for Ireland and was part of the British Isles team in their ...

. The British Isles team won the second test, and Bell kept his place with Magee for the third and fourth tests.

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Sydney Pyman 1875 births 1944 deaths Rugby union players from Newcastle upon Tyne English rugby union players British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players Barbarian F.C. players People educated at Uppingham School Alumni of King's College, Cambridge