Mark Douglas Bell

Mark Bell was yet another product of St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill - Australia's leading rugby nursery. A consistent hooker, Bell played in the undefeated 1st XV premiership team of 1986. That was the springboard to higher honours as a record-equalling ten players from that side were picked in the GPS 1st XV and from there Bell was selected for the Australian Schools tour of New Zealand.

He played his club football in Sydney with Northern Suburbs and his strong performances were rewarded in 1992 with a debut for New South Wales against New Zealand. The following year Bell was a member of the Australian squad for the short tour of North America and France but he did not play in any of the Tests.

In 1996 both Marco Caputo and Michael Foley were injured in the second Test of the home series against Wales. As a consequence Bell was called into the squad and made his Test debut the following week against Canada in Brisbane. Mark Bell played one Test for Australia and will forever be Wallaby #729.

Highlights

1996

Bell won his first Test cap as the starting hooker, alongside Andrew Heath and Dan Crowley, in the 74-9 defeat of Canada in Brisbane