By Lestyn 04/03/04
March 7 2004

Strictly speaking Duncan Bell doesn't have a drop of Welsh blood in him, but the former Pontypridd tighthead now at Bath will be a very welcome addition when he qualifies through residency.

Bell turned down a place on the England "A" bench to keep his hopes of representing the land of his home, Wales alive. Even if the 29-year old had not come on at any stage in Pergpigan against France's "A" team on Saturday, it would have signalled the end of his international aspirations, for anyone other than England.

Bell - "It probably wasn't in my best interests to go out to France and sit on the bench for England A.

" If I did that, there would be no turning back. I would have to commit myself to England, and come May when I am eligible for Wales, I wouldn't have been able to take that any further.

" If there had been a whole Six Nations A Championship, and I was selected as part of that squad, then things might have been different.

" I spoke to the Welsh management before I left Pontypridd for Bath, and they were keen for me to live in Wales and qualify through that route, and I was keen to do it.

" I love Wales and, if they feel I am playing well enough once I have qualified, I would be honoured to represent them."

His plight demonstrates just why Clive Woodward should not be given his way with the re-instatement of the "A" team tournament. As the Pacific nations have found to their downfall, it is a very useful way in which the larger rugby powers can warehouse players, dilluting the talent pool available to less well off unions.

For Bath this season alongside former Welsh hooker Jonathan Humphries in the front row, Bell has been in fine form during the West Country club's resurgence to the top of the Zurich Premiership.

At Sardis Road Bell was a fans favourite, playing with the passion and vigour you would expect at the valley's club. The transformation into a Welsh shirt should be a fairly smooth one for him.

The bounds of the residency rule will be pushed even further with fellow Rec product Chris Horsman in line to fufill his three year stay in the principality in 2005, being able to play alongside Bell, should they do enough to impress either Gareth Jenkins or Mark Evans.

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