Warren Bell - FNB Player of the Week
Player Profile
Warren Bell, the outstanding sportsman at Grey High in Port Elizabeth, is our FNB Player of the Week this week. Sadly, it looks as if rugby will lose him.
When Grey PE went up to Grey Bloem, Dries van der Wal, Grey Bloem's experienced coach and an SA Schools selector, singled Warren out as the danger man in the PE side. He made the tackles and he launched the attacks from fullback on a day when Grey Bloem won 22-16.
Warren himself says that playing against Grey Bloem has always been a match he enjoys and the highlight of his rugby career was last year's encounter when Grey PE beat Grey Bloem 17-14 and warren scored all 17 points. Grey Bloem were leading 14-12 till the last minute when Warren, playing left wing, went over in the corner for the try which won the match and made the whole of Port Elizabeth happy.
He was also on the left wing for the first match against Selborne in 2004, an FNB Classic clash. Selborne led 16-11 till the last minute when Grey scored in the corner. From touch on the left-hand side of the field, Bell converted to give Grey a dramatic victory.
The highlight of this season was Grey's match with Paul Roos in the wet when the teams drew 14-all.
Warren is a really versatile sportsman. Though he was on the left wing for Grey last year, he played flyhalf for Eastern Province at Craven Week and this year is at fullback. He kicks for goal with his right boot (75% success-rate) but with both feet out of hand.
But he will be off to cricket next year, joining the Eastern Province Cricket Academy. He has played provincial cricket for Eastern Province from Under-12 to Under-18. He has played for South Africa Under-17 and Under-18, the Colts. He went to the Coca Cola (the old Nuffield) Week two years in a row and has played for Eastern Province Amateur side and for Eastern Province seniors. He is an all-rounder - batting 3 or 4, opening the bowling and fielding at cover or point.
Not that his rugby has been without honour. He played for Eastern Province at the Under-13 Craven Week when he was at Astra Primary School and then for Eastern Province Under 15 and Under-16, Eastern Province Sevens at Under-17 and then at Craven Week in 2004.
Enjoyed his rugby? "Yes, very much," he says. "It is great to be involved with a good team. We are good friends and have enjoyed good coaching?"
Coaches? "Last year we had Mr Dirk Walters and this year Mr Brendan Grant. They have been with me all the way. In fact all the teachers at Grey have been great."
Brendan Grant is full of admiration for his skilled player. "He is small but has dainty feet and is creative from fullback. His tackling against Grey Bloem proved that he is a player with a big heart."
He came to Grey in Std 7 from Bertram School.
Warren Eldrid Bell was born in Port Elizabeth on 23 July 1986. He has two older brothers, Wessel and Terence, who have been good cricketers, but the big sportsman in the family was his uncle China Bell, a former Eastern Province three-quarter who became a Junior Springbok in 1986 when he played against the New Zealand Cavaliers, now a businessman in Port Elizabeth. Warren enjoys the support of his parents. When he played in Bloemfontein recently they were there. They are always there.