Born: April 29, 1962 – Auckland
Test record: 26 Tests (1983-89) – 11 tries (44 points)
Tours: 1985 tour of Britain and France, 1986 tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, 1987 tour of Papua New Guinea and Australia

One of New Zealand’s all-time greats, tough and dynamic centre/winger Dean Bell played 26 Tests – including four as captain – in a seven-year Kiwis tenure and carved out an enormous legacy as a leader at Wigan and the Auckland Warriors.

Bell made his senior debut for Manukau in 1979 (he would later be named the club’s Player of the Century) and embarked on his first stint in Britain with Carlisle in the 1982-83 season, alongside uncle and New Zealand rep Ian Bell and cousin and fellow future Kiwi Clayton Friend.

The 21-year-old received his maiden Kiwis call-up as a winger for the 1983 series against Australia, debuting in the 16-4 loss at Carlaw Park and featuring in the 19-12 upset victory at Lang Park. Bell switched to centre for the subsequent one-off Test against Papua New Guinea in Auckland, scoring three tries in a 60-20 win.

After an off-season with Leeds, Bell was back on the flank for the Kiwis’ 3-0 home whitewash of Great Britain in 1984, crossing for a try in the second Test in Christchurch. He also played in Oceania’s 54-4 win over Europe that year, playing alongside the likes of Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Steve Mortimer.

Bell joined Sydney club Eastern Suburbs in 1985, earning a reputation as a fiery customer. He was a prominent figure in the iconic ’85 Test series against Australia, scoring a try in the 26-20 series-opening loss and celebrating in the 18-0 dead-rubber win. On the Kiwis’ end-of-season tour, he dotted down in the first two Tests of the drawn series in Great Britain as a winger, then played in the third Test against Great Britain and both Tests in France as a centre.

A tryscorer again in the 1986 series opener against Australia, Bell’s run of 16 straight Tests since his debut ended after the second clash. He was chosen as captain for the Kiwis’ short of Papua New Guinea and Australia, leading his country and scoring two tries in a 36-22 win in Port Moresby. Hugh McGahan took over as skipper for the 13-6 boilover against Australia in Brisbane.

The blockbusting Bell captained New Zealand throughout its 1988 program, wins over Papua New Guinea and Great Britain, and the demoralising World Cup final loss to Australia at Eden Park. He missed the 1989 home series against Australia but featured in all five Tests on the Kiwis’ tour of Britain and France, crossing for his 11th Test try in his final appearance in the black-and-white jumper in Carcassonne.

As well as playing for the Roosters in 1986 and ’88, Bell began a nine-season stay with English heavyweights Wigan in the 1986-87 winter. He scored 92 tries in 244 games for the club, winning seven straight Challenge Cup finals (three as captain), including the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in 1993, and the Man of Steel Award as the domestic season’s best player in 1992.

The 32-year-old legend was lured to the fledgling Auckland Warriors for their 1995 premiership entry by former Wigan coach John Monie. He led the team out of the tunnel at Ericsson Stadium for their unforgettable debut against Brisbane Broncos in one of New Zealand sport’s most iconic moments and captained the club in 19 of its 22 first-season matches.

Bell spurned the chance to stay with the Warriors, instead taking over as coach of Leeds Rhinos (and playing one match) for the 1996-97 seasons.

Inducted into the NZRL Legends of League in 2000, Bell was an assistant coach to his father, Cameron, of the Aotearoa Māori team at that year’s World Cup. He had roles with Wigan as head of the club’s youth development program, and with the New Zealand Warriors as development manager, manger of their NYC team, recruitment and development manager, and GM of Football.