Bell is originally from the Auckland region of New Zealand and attended Kerikeri High School where he played rugby and earned selection for the BluesU18developmentsquad. He also earned selection for the New Zealand U18 Sevens side. After school he moved to the Canterbury region to become a member of the Crusaders academy, where he represented the Crusaders U20 side in 2024. He earned selection for the New Zealand [national under-20 rugby union team|New Zealand U20] side in 2024, but did not make an appearance due to injury.