In its 102-year history, Ulster’s wet and windy ground in Belfast had experienced some notable events.
Fans watched Ulster defeat the Wallabies in 1984 on their grand slam tour, against all odds. Further back, they cheered on two of rugby’s greatest players, Willie John McBride and Mike Gibson.
But nobody at Ravenhill Stadium had ever seen a prop score a try quite like Angus Bell’s.
Last Saturday night against Cardiff, the Wallaby paused over the ball after a ruck had formed outside the 22-metre line. As a loose-head prop in Belfast, not long after a storm, he was expected to run straight into the waiting Cardiff defence.
But Bell decided to sell a dummy and run.
First, he sidestepped Cardiff fullback Cam Winnett, who ended on his backside, then Bell sprinted past winger Ioan Lloyd to score under the posts.
What made the try even more incredible was that Bell did it with a makeshift boot.
“The astroturf pitch is a bit tougher on the boot, so just before the game, one of my studs exploded [on his right foot], so I had to make a quick boot change,” he said.
“I needed to make do and try to tape them up as much as I could to hide the different colour [of the new boot], which obviously was a bit hard … but it was an awesome experience. I know how diehard the Ulster fans are and how much Belfast gets around its rugby. I don’t really remember much of it to be honest, but it was a great team effort to get us into the 22, and I was just lucky to get on the end of it.”
Bell’s try took less than 10 seconds, but Ulster have created a one minute and 21 second clip showing every conceivable angle of it for posterity. The try, in the 22-14 win over Cardiff, has subsequently gone viral on social media. A notable part of the clip shows the whole Ulster squad, including subs, mobbing Bell in celebration.
Bell, who has been in Belfast for barely two months as part of his sabbatical from the Waratahs, has already made himself completely at home in Northern Ireland.
Angus Bell touches down for a special try.Credit: Sportsfile via Getty Images
“I was just saying this before to some of the boys at the club, I’ll definitely be upset when I’m leaving. They’re great people,” Bell said.
“They have made the transition from moving halfway across the world really seamless, and I’ve made some really, really good friends for life.
“I’d just say that the Belfast people are just unbelievable and obviously really, really tough people, too, so the kindness has just been incredible, and it’s helped me settle in really well.”
Bell left Sydney’s sunshine at the end of November after a gruelling spring tour with the Wallabies and arrived into a cold, dark and wet Belfast.
Angus Bell has embraced Belfast, and it has embraced him back.Credit: AP
Recently, the roof collapsed in one of the rooms of Bell’s house due to snow, but it still could not stop his enjoyment of a new city – something he believes will help him become an even better player when he returns to Australia in six months ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
“Something that I’ve worked on really closely with Jimmy Duffy, who is the forwards coach of Ulster Rugby, is playing with a smile on your face and knowing that this is the best time of your life,” Bell said.
“I’ve been in a seriously high-pressure environment for a number of years now. Something that’s really opened my eyes up is just about having fun and enjoying the task, enjoying the challenges and enjoying the feedback.
“We have harsh conversations, but it’s to get better. Nothing’s personal and it’s all about getting better. That’s something that I’ve learned off-duty, which has been really, really beneficial for me.”
Ulster are sitting fourth in the United Rugby Championship (which includes teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales) and are top of their pool in the European Challenge Cup. Bell has played a key part in the resurgence of an exciting team under coach Richie Murphy, a close associate of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
In January, Bell hosted his family and took them on Belfast’s famed black taxi tour, which shows the history of a city that emerged from conflict into a far brighter future. In a relatively small city, Bell’s Australian accent stands out and is regularly recognised in Belfast’s coffee shops and restaurants, something that he has embraced.
“In Belfast, you’ve got to give people as much time as you can, sign as much as you can. That’s something that I’ve promised myself that I’d do,” Bell said.
“Anyone who asks for a photo or an autograph, you make sure you give them the time of day because you never know when they grow up, they could be a good athlete and want to play and represent Ulster and Ireland rugby.
“The greatest thing about rugby is it’s our game. Anywhere that you can grow the sport or grow the love for something collectively like rugby, you do that. I love giving back to the community, as Ulster have taken me in and Belfast has been so good to me and my partner.”
Bell is back in Sydney for two weeks to see his parents and he will cheer on the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium against the Queensland Reds in round one of Super Rugby on Friday, giving him an opportunity to catch up with old teammates and reflect on his new life.
“I’m really excited for the Waratahs season this year, and I’ll be supporting from halfway across the world,” Bell said.
“They’ve been an awesome team, so I’ll be supporting them, all the way to the finals and [hopefully watching] the Waratahs with the 2026 Super Rugby title.”
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